Media watchdog urges Serbia to protect journalists ahead of October vote

An international media watchdog has called on Serbia's government to guarantee that journalists can cover next month's early parliamentary election safely and without fear, warning that reporters in the country face mounting threats and hostility.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement this week that journalists covering the October 25 ballot are at serious risk of threats, violence and hostility of a kind that has become increasingly common during President Aleksandar Vucic's time in office. The group urged Serbia's European partners to monitor the situation closely, press Belgrade to uphold the rule of law and speak out against violations of press freedom.

The Serbian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the past, the country's information ministry has said it condemns any attacks on journalists and has called for a swift state response.

CPJ pointed to an international mission in March that documented escalating police violence, smear campaigns driven by public officials, persistent impunity, and legal and digital threats, alongside efforts by the ruling party to tighten its hold on the media.

Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership, but the process has stalled under Vucic, who has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic freedoms, including the media. Since his party came to power in 2012, it has gradually established control over mainstream media while often describing critical outlets as enemies of the state.

Danica Vucenic, a journalist with regional television N1, received a letter in June threatening her and her family. She said she routinely reports all threats to the authorities but that no action has followed.

"It's a waste of time because I will receive more threats and report again," she said. "It will not end until Serbia becomes a democratic country."

Attila Mong, CPJ's Europe representative, described the situation for journalists in Serbia as alarming, citing street violence, threats and relentless efforts to discredit their work, often originating from senior government officials.

"Ahead of the October elections, conditions for journalists are getting worse," he said, adding that there have been multiple reports of journalists assaulted while doing their jobs at rallies and other political gatherings, and that the online atmosphere is increasingly febrile.

CPJ recommended that authorities issue public instructions to police, respond rapidly to threats and condemn violence, while ensuring protection for journalists and access to election candidates.

Vucenic, a veteran of Serbia's independent media, said she tries to ignore the threats and work normally, but blamed the country's political leadership for the climate.

"Journalists are being treated as enemies of the state," she said. "That has made our existence unsafe."

Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party face a challenge in the October vote from a youth-led movement that emerged from nearly two years of street protests triggered by a train station tragedy in November 2024. Tensions are expected to run high as the populists seek to retain power despite widespread public discontent.