Serbian Journalist Jelena Mirković Assaulted as Press Freedom Deteriorates

November 27, 2024 – Serbia –

Serbian journalist Jelena Mirković of N1 TV was physically assaulted while covering a pro-government protest in Belgrade, marking a troubling escalation in attacks on independent media. Mirković, along with cameraman Aleksandar Cvrkotić, was shoved, struck, and verbally harassed by protesters. The assailants attempted to snatch her microphone, and the camera was damaged during the altercation. Mirković sustained a shoulder injury and later described the attack as the most violent incident in her decade-long career.

This assault follows a disturbing pattern. Earlier in November, another N1 crew was attacked during a demonstration, and journalists from other independent outlets, including Nova TV and Kovinske Info, have faced similar violence while covering protests across the country. Camera crews from Euronews Serbia have also been targeted. In many of these cases, police failed to intervene or protect journalists despite their visible press credentials.

The Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) have condemned the attack, calling for a prompt and impartial investigation. They also criticized the Serbian government for fostering a hostile environment through persistent public vilification of critical media, particularly N1, which has been frequently branded as “foreign agents” by pro-government figures.

The assault occurred amid nationwide protests sparked by infrastructure failures and broader anti-corruption grievances. Demonstrations in over 400 towns and cities have drawn tens of thousands of participants. As protests have grown, so has pressure on the media, with independent journalists increasingly becoming targets of aggression and scapegoating.

WPF and CFWIJ emphasized that gendered abuse and physical violence against female reporters like Mirković are especially alarming and must be treated with zero tolerance. They warn that Serbia is entering a dangerous phase where physical attacks on journalists are becoming normalized.

Unless Serbian authorities take urgent action to protect journalists and prosecute their attackers, the country risks backsliding into an era of state-enabled media repression. The future of press freedom in Serbia now hinges on whether justice can be secured—and whether political leadership will uphold the rights of those who report the truth.

Reference – 

https://www.mapmf.org/alert/32463

https://www.womeninjournalism.org/alerts/serbia-n1s-jelena-mirkovi-assaulted-at-protest-wpf-alarmed-by-rising-attacks-on-press