Croatian MEP Tonino Picula, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, condemned the Serbian government on Saturday after journalists, including Croatian media teams, were prevented from entering Serbia ahead of a massive anti-government protest.
Picula described the border incident as further evidence of undemocratic practices under President Aleksandar Vučić, emphasizing that suppressing media cannot stop the truth from spreading.
“Journalists can be stopped at the border, but the truth cannot be easily contained. A government that attempts to block the truth is certainly not democratic. Clearly, it has a reason to do so—to prevent the world from seeing the reality of its rule,” Picula stated during a press conference in Osijek.
He accused Vučić’s administration of systematically restricting press freedom within Serbia, arguing that the latest measures align with a long-standing effort to suppress independent reporting.
Commenting on the ongoing protests, Picula noted uncertainty over whether this was just one stage in a prolonged movement or its climax. He warned that further escalation would not serve either the demonstrators or the government’s interests.
Regarding Croatia’s potential response to Serbia’s actions, Picula urged a firmer stance, calling on the Croatian Foreign Ministry to summon Serbia’s diplomatic representative in Zagreb for an explanation.
