Belgrade, March 7, 2024<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the observed period, the representatives of the authorities continued to make accusations against independent media and civil society organizations.<\/p>\n
As he announced, Aleksandar \u0160api\u0107 continues to refuse to answer questions from N1 television. At the press conference, after the second attempt to constitute the city assembly, \u0160api\u0107 listened, but refused to answer the question of a journalist from this television. A day later, at a conference in the premises of the Serbian Progressive Party, prime minister Ana Brnabi\u0107 “joined in solidarity” with \u0160api\u0107 in refusing to answer journalists’ questions and thus stood in solidarity with the violation of the Constitution and the disrespect of the citizens of Serbia.<\/p>\n
Targeting of the media by high-ranking state officials is also transferred to the local level, and often results in arrogant treatment of local journalists. A security officer of the Municipality of In\u0111ija kicked out the journalist of the IN Media portal, Verica Marini\u010di\u0107, from the Municipality building, where at that moment a meeting of the residents with the President of the Municipality was taking place. Security physically pushed the journalist out, stating that she was “not on the list”.<\/p>\n
On February 27, the police searched the apartments of several members of the Military Union, including the apartment of the president of that union, Novica Anti\u0107. Anti\u0107 was arrested together with two other members of the union leadership, on suspicion of having committed the criminal offense of embezzlement. However, the lawyers of those arrested believe that political motives are behind this action.<\/p>\n