The European Union has been alerted to the alarming decline of press freedom in Serbia, as highlighted by a coalition of 12 press freedom organizations led by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Amidst growing concerns, these organizations are urging the EU to publicly address the escalating violence against journalists in Serbia and to hold Serbian authorities accountable for any lapses in handling press-related incidents. The complete statement can be reviewed through the RSF website.
The deteriorating situation was further underscored by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) which, in its recent report, cited increased censorship and threats against media workers, often emanating from state authorities. A catalytic point was reached following the dissemination of details about the roof collapse at a Novi Sad railway station, leading to widespread criticism of the government’s response.
Mapping Media Freedom, an online platform monitoring such situations, has cataloged 95 violations against 184 journalists in Serbia this year, a situation exacerbated by the treatment of media professionals covering the student-led protests demanding accountability for the railway disaster. Further insights into these violations can be accessed here.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić has shown a persistent adversarial stance towards independent media, with critical reporting from outlets like N1 and Nova S being labeled as “pure terrorism,” leading to their exclusion from platforms like EON SAT, according to additional reports from Mapping Media Freedom.
Amnesty International’s findings, which indicate the targeted use of Pegasus spyware against investigative journalists by Serbian authorities, further illuminate the hostile environment journalists are currently facing.
In light of Serbia’s ranking at 96th on the RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, this situation puts Serbia behind all EU countries in terms of journalistic freedom. RSF has urged the EU to factor these developments into its considerations of Serbia’s potential EU membership application.
For further details, the original article is available on JURIST.