Elections in Serbia: EFJ calls on the authorities to let journalists do their job
Whilst long queues formed at polling stations across Serbia on Sunday, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and its Serbian affiliates began to report the first incidents targeting journalists covering the parliamentary elections. The EFJ calls on the authorities to ensure the safety of journalists on the ground.
Long lines snaked from polling stations across the country. Even populist leader Aleksandar Vucić waited in line for nearly two hours to vote. First indications of results are expected around two hours after polls close at 8 p.m.
Whilst voting was still under way, the EFJ and its affiliates reported several incidents targeting journalists:
- journalists Mihailo Stojković and Jelena Stojković faced violent obstruction and were injured at a polling station in the village of Pavlovac;
- Epicentar Press journalists were prevented from filming at a polling station in Čačak;
- journalist Ivana Predić was prevented from reporting at a polling station in Pančevo;
- the editor of the Serbian Times from Chicago, Antoni Kovačević, was not allowed to film at the polling station in the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Chicago. “After three months of being in contact with the Consulate General of Serbia in Chicago, no one ever told me that accreditation would be required to report on the election process. I came there and they did not allow me to enter, with the explanation that I was not accredited,” Kovačević said;
- journalists Denis Mahmutović and Marko Miščević, from Telegram (Croatia), were denied entry to Serbia under the alleged pretext of “security threat”.
“The multiple cases of obstruction documented since this morning highlight once again the persistent spiral of violence targeting independent media outlets and journalists in Serbia,” said EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez. “We stand in full solidarity with the journalists reporting from the ground and strongly encourage them to report any incidents. Major attacks will be published on Mapping Media Freedom and submitted to the Council of Europe Platform to protect journalists. Key findings will also be shared with relevant international actors by the Media Freedom Rapid Response to request a timely response and ensure accountability. Europe is watching Serbia. The climate of impunity that has been entrenched for too long must end now. Media freedom is a cornerstone of democratic elections and must be treated as such”.
