Death Threats Against Serbian Journalists Over Kosovo Reporting

October 02, 2024 – Kosovo/Serbia – 

Serbian news agency Tanjug is facing grave threats to its staff following coverage of Kosovo that sparked a chilling death threat. On September 30, 2024, the agency received an email threatening to “shoot journalists in the back of the head” if they entered Kosovo. The sender accused Tanjug of being a propaganda tool of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and condemned its use of the term “Kosovo and Metohija,” a phrase rejected by many Kosovar Albanians as a denial of Kosovo’s sovereignty.

The threat included surveillance claims, stating the sender was tracking Tanjug’s journalists and warning them to “think twice” before reporting from the region. Serbian authorities responded by launching an investigation through the High-Tech Crime Department, tracing the IP address of the email to Kosovo. They have since requested assistance from EULEX, the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, to identify and prosecute the perpetrator.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and SEEMO all condemned the threat, calling it a direct assault on press freedom. CPJ demanded swift action from Serbian and Kosovar authorities to ensure journalists’ safety. IFJ and EFJ urged law enforcement to pursue a full investigation and provide protection for the targeted journalists, while SEEMO emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation in holding the sender accountable.

The incident reflects growing hostility toward journalists in Serbia and the wider Balkan region. According to media watchdogs, over 160 cases of intimidation, legal harassment, and physical threats against journalists in Serbia have been recorded in the past year alone. The Tanjug threat underscores how sensitive coverage of Kosovo remains a flashpoint, and how political tensions can dangerously spill over into attacks on the press.

As journalists continue to navigate this volatile environment, press freedom advocates stress that threats of violence cannot be allowed to silence independent reporting. Ensuring accountability in this case is essential—not just for Tanjug’s staff, but for the safety of all journalists working under increasing political pressure across the Balkans.

Reference – 

https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/press-releases/article/serbia-death-threats-against-tanjug-journalists-must-be-investigated

04.10.2024 – Serbian Journalists Face Death Threats for Reporting Kosovo

Death threat sent to Serbian news agency Tanjug over Kosovo reporting – Committee to Protect Journalists (cpj.org)