Journalists harassed, obstructed and attacked during the election campaign in Serbia

The moment when the attacker tried to snatch the mobile phone from journalist Uglješa Bokić on June 2, 2024, as he was reporting on skirmishes between supporters of the ruling party and the opposition on election day. (Screenshot: Uglješa Bokić/Danas)

Berlin, June 12, 2023 – Serbian authorities should investigate recent attacks on election journalists promptly and thoroughly and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists demanded on Wednesday.

On June 9, Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) won a vote on Belgrade’s city council and a partial local election across the country. According to media reports, the election was marked by allegations of irregularities and clashes between supporters of populist President Aleksandar Vučis and the opposition.

At around noon on June 2 in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, a man approached journalist Uglješa Bokić, who works at the daily newspaper Danas, and punched him in the chest, attempting to snatch his cellphone before fleeing, according to media reports, a video released by his employer and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via email.

Bokić was filming at the Novi Sad fairgrounds, where clashes between police and opposition supporters took place. He told CPJ that he was clearly identified as a journalist by a press card around his neck. He said he suffered bruises, hematomas and a contused sternum during the attack and had to be treated in hospital.

Bokić told CPJ he recognized his attacker as a former police officer and supporter of the SNS, which “views my media outlet as hostile,” he said. Serbian media reported the man was Vladimir Kezmić, a former police officer. Bokić, also a former police officer, told CPJ they do not know each other. Bokić said he reported the attack and gave a statement to Novi Sad police. As of June 11, he had received no further information.

On June 2, a group of SNS supporters in Belgrade’s Zemun Polje district attempted to take away the equipment of journalist Marko Miletić of the news portal Portal Mašina as he was filming alleged voting irregularities outside the ruling party’s local headquarters, according to Cenzolovka, a news website that focuses on media and press freedom, a video released by his employer, and the journalist himself spoke to CPJ via email.

According to these reports, Miletić was alerted by opposition supporters about alleged electoral fraud in the district. While he was photographing documents provided by the opposition in front of the headquarters, several people came out of the building and approached him and the opposition activists. A woman from the circle of SNS supporters tried to snatch his mobile phone while he was taking pictures and chased him away together with two men.

Miletić told CPJ that he did not report the attack to police because he did not trust the “institutions of the justice system” and feared for his safety after the attack.

“Serbian authorities must swiftly and thoroughly investigate the recent attacks on election journalists, hold perpetrators to account, and ensure that members of the press can report on issues of public interest without fear of physical attacks and reprisals,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s European representative. “The environment for journalism in Serbia is becoming increasingly hostile and authorities must take effective measures to protect journalists.”

In a CPJ report published in May, journalists critical of President Vučić and his policies said they sometimes felt they were the target of orchestrated campaigns by ruling party supporters, politicians, public officials and pro-government media.

The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia condemned the attacks on journalists in a statement, saying on June 3 that the campaign period and election day itself “were marked by smear campaigns against journalists, targeted attacks and obstruction of their work, and even physical attacks by government officials and activists of their party.”

CPJ sent an email to the press office of the Serbian Progressive Party and the Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad, but received no response. CPJ could not find any contact information for Kezmić.