Press freedom in Serbia is experiencing heightened challenges, as an international media monitoring group, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), has declared the situation “critical.” Journalists in the country are increasingly subjected to attacks and threats, with recent reports highlighting systematic persecution. This announcement follows MFRR’s mission to Belgrade, where a delegation gathered insights from journalists and civil society regarding these violations amid ongoing protests over the Novi Sad railway station disaster.
The challenges faced by the press include surveillance, as highlighted by a report from Amnesty International, with journalists from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) being targeted by the Pegasus spyware. According to MFRR’s data, numerous incidents against journalists have been documented since November 2024. These range from forcible prevention of reporting and entry denials to assaults.
In light of these developments, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on the European Union (EU) to address these violations during Serbia’s EU membership review. The Treaty on European Union demands that aspiring member states uphold freedom and human dignity, principles reportedly compromised in Serbia. Additionally, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission, has stressed the importance of addressing media freedom issues in Serbia.