The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS/IJAS) and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) condemned the obstruction of a Masina journalist’s work at a ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) rally in Surcin and the denial of access to journalists from Becejski Mozaik and Webinfo to a debate between national and local officials and pensioners in the town of Becej. They said these actions constitute unacceptable restrictions on the public’s right to be informed, particularly less than a week before the elections.
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They stated that, according to Masina, an SNS rally featuring a concert was held following a Student List gathering in central Surcin. A journalist from the outlet was prevented from continuing to film after recording several shots.
Journalists from Becejski Mozaik, based in Becej, and Webinfo, based in Novi Becej, were not allowed to attend a meeting between national and local officials and pensioners in Becej, despite their newsrooms having received invitations and their representatives having been accredited.
As reported by Becejski Mozaik, the journalists were informed at the venue by David Tufegdcic, the municipal council member responsible for public information, and subsequently by a representative of the Ministry of Mining and Energy that they would not be allowed to enter. They were not even permitted to film the opening of the event, NUNS reported.
NUNS called on the organizers of these events to explain why journalists were prevented from reporting, and on the Municipality of Becej and the Ministry of Mining and Energy to publicly clarify who decided to deny invited and accredited journalists access to the meeting and on what grounds. It is particularly concerning that the municipal official responsible for public information was directly involved in denying access.
“National and local officials have a responsibility to make their work open to public scrutiny and ensure equal access to information for all media outlets. Selecting which newsrooms may cover events based on their perceived acceptability constitutes discrimination and an attempt to control the information reaching the public,” NUNS said.
It noted that these cases followed previously documented incidents at SNS rallies, where journalists were pushed, intimidated and prevented from working.
“We reiterate that journalists attending these events perform work in the public interest. Their presence, filming and questions must not be grounds for removal or denial of access. Citizens have the right to be informed about the activities of political actors and public officials, and the media must be able to report on them without pressure or discrimination,” the Association said.
NUNS called on SNS representatives, national and local officials, and organizers of public events to immediately end the practice of granting selective media access and ensure equal working conditions for all journalists.
ANEM: State institutions must not be used for election campaigning
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) condemned the ban on journalists from the portals Webinfo and Becejski Mozaik from attending the forum organized by the Republic Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO Fund) in Becej, which was also attended by Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic.
“Journalists were denied entry to the forum despite an official invitation, a previously submitted accreditation application, and a confirmation of attendance which the Webinfo portal received electronically from Fund PIO. The journalists were first informed of the entry ban by a member of the Becej Municipal Council responsible for information, and then representatives of the ministry confirmed that the event was not open to the media,” ANEM said.
ANEM recalled that the notification that the public forum was closed to the media contradicted the previously sent invitation, which explicitly stated that the forum was open to accredited journalists. According to Fund representatives, the event was “attended by 150 pensioners.” Since footage of Minister Djedovic Handanovic entering the hall was broadcast on TV Becej, it can be concluded that attendance at the event was permitted and desirable only for certain pro-regime media outlets.
The topic of the contentious forum was support for older citizens, which the acting minister linked to the policies of former Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic and the period following the October 25 elections.
“ANEM warns that Article 50 of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption prohibits public officials from using public gatherings and meetings they attend in an official capacity to promote political parties, electoral lists, and candidates. Therefore, we demand that the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund publicly explain who made the decision to prohibit certain journalists from entering the forum and why, as well as that the Anti-Corruption Agency investigates whether this gathering was used for political promotion and whether there was a violation of the Law on the Prevention of Corruption. State institutions must not be used for electoral campaigns, nor should they deny the public's right to be informed and journalists' right to report on their work,” it said.
Teme