On the very day the weekly magazine Radar published an investigative piece by Vuk Cvijic and Milan Radonjic on newly surfaced Sky ECC encrypted chats, exposing the real identities behind the aliases “Oskar” and “Cvarak” and alleging deep-seated cooperation between state officials and various criminal syndicates, the two journalists received disturbing messages.
Oglas
The editorial board at Radar has officially reported the harassment to the Special Prosecutor’s Office for High-Tech Crime. The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) have also been notified, Nova.rs reported.
The article by Cvijic and Radonjic notes that in the Sky ECC messages obtained by Radar, convicted drug lord Darko Saric wrote to his brother Dusko and cousin Zeljko Vujanovic, explicitly stating, “We call Vucic Oskar,” and “Cvarak is Oskar.”
According to the weekly, the text logs uncover how former Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic’s brother and son were allegedly in contact with Saric’s associates. The report further claims that this high-level state cooperation eventually extended to the rival Skaljari clan as well.
The contents of the Sky ECC logs reviewed by Radar indicate that the aliases “Oskar” and “Cvarak” refer to Serbian citizen Aleksandar Vucic, who is currently the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) candidate for Prime Minister of Serbia. Furthermore, communications within the opposing Skaljari cartel also indicate close ties to the leading figure on the SNS electoral list.
The leaked messages expose strategic connections and agreements that both major drug cartels established with the highest echelons of the ruling regime, Radar reported. It added that the revelation of these specific aliases stems from a series of messages exchanged by Darko Saric while held in the Special Court’s detention unit, his brother Dusko Saric, and their inner circle.
NUNS demands a swift and effective investigation
The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) strongly condemned the threats and insults directed at Radar journalists Vuk Cvijic and Milan Radonjic in a comment posted on the weekly magazine’s website.
“The message, which contains brutal threats and references to violence against the journalists’ children, constitutes serious intimidation in response to their investigative reporting. We demand that the police and the relevant prosecutor’s office promptly identify the person who posted the comment, take measures to protect the targeted journalists, and prosecute those responsible in accordance with the law,” NUNS stated.
The author of the comment insulted the editorial team, singled out both journalists by name, and posted highly disturbing messages referencing torture, death, and sexual violence against their children.
NUNS pointed out that Vuk Cvijic has repeatedly been subjected to threats and physical assaults. According to the association’s records, none of those previous cases have resulted in convictions. Milan Radonjic was also targeted with threats in June of this year.
“Journalists must not face threats or fear for their families because they investigate matters of public interest. The absence of effective investigations and sanctions leaves journalists increasingly unsafe and sends a message that intimidation of media workers can continue without consequences,” NUNS warned.
The association is demanding a swift and effective investigation into the latest threats against Cvijic and Radonjic, as well as accountability for past incidents. NUNS emphasized that authorities have a duty to ensure conditions in which journalists can work freely and the public can receive information on matters of public interest.
International watchdogs also highlight the increasingly perilous state of journalists in the country. According to the Reporters Without Borders 2026 World Press Freedom Index, Serbia ranks 104th out of 180 countries and territories, marking a significant eight-place drop compared to the previous year.
NUNS data reveals that by the end of September 223 cases of threats, assaults, and incidents compromising the safety of media professionals had already been recorded.
This follows warnings issued in August by the European Federation of Journalists and partner organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, which sounded the alarm over the fact that death threats and sexual violence against journalists and their families are proliferating under a climate of near-total impunity. Media advocates stress that such alarming trends demand a concrete and immediate institutional response.
Teme