Saša Dragojlo, a journalist for the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), was attacked today by an activist of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) while filming a protest in front of an SNS stall near the Djeram market in Belgrade. Dragojlo reported the incident on social media, claiming that despite the presence of police officers at the scene, they refused to identify or detain the attacker.
According to Dragojlo, the altercation occurred when he was filming an incident involving citizens protesting against the SNS presence at the market. When Dragojlo showed his press card, the attacker became more aggressive. Despite the attack and Dragojlo’s request for police intervention, the authorities did not take any action to identify the assailant or arrest him.
The SNS activists had previously set up stalls in the area on Saturday but were forced to leave due to public opposition. Today, they returned to the same location, with additional police protection.
The Independent Union of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) condemned the physical attack on Dragojlo, highlighting the police’s failure to uphold their duty to protect journalists. NUNS emphasized that journalists enjoy special legal protections under Serbian law, and the attack constitutes a violation of freedom of the press.
NUNS called for an urgent investigation into the attack, the identification and prosecution of those responsible, and an internal review of the police officers’ conduct. The union stressed the importance of ensuring that journalists can perform their duties without fear of violence or intimidation.
