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Report: “Toxic Narratives: Silencing Expression in the Western Balkans”
PEN International, in collaboration with various Balkan PEN centres, publishes a report examining the many challenges faced by independent writers and journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia.
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Staff of Serbian newspaper ‘Danas’ threatened with Charlie Hebdo-style attack
On 6 November an unknown individual sent an email with the subject line “Charlie Hebdo of Belgrade” to the editor-in-chief of ‘Danas’, threatening staff with “barrages of bullets” because of its editorial policy. The email named specific journalists as “enemies of the Serbian people” and “traitors”.
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Serbia: Retrial reaffirms convictions of those who murdered journalist Slavko Ćuruvija in 1999
On 2 December 2021, four former officials of the Serbian state security services were handed a total of 100 years in prison for the murder of investigative reporter Ćuruvija.
![A man holds the Serbian national flag in front of the National assembly building in Belgrade, 18 June 2020, ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/serbia-parliamentary-polls-national-assembly-getty-768x511.jpg)
Serbia: Former mayor jailed for 2018 arson attack on journalist’s home
A court sentenced Dragoljub Simonovic, the former mayor of Grocka and a member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, to four years and three months in jail after finding him guilty of ordering a Molotov cocktail attack on Milan Jovanović’s home.
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Serbian police arrest three journalists reporting on COVID-19 issues
“We urge the government of Serbia to ensure that journalists are able to go about their work without fear of arrest. Accurate and updated reporting from journalists will be an essential ally of governments in tackling the pandemic.”
![Journalist and newspaper publisher Slavko Curuvija at a press conference in Belgrade, Serbia, 1 November 1998, ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/serbia-slavko-curuvija-getty-768x512.jpg)
Serbia: Four sentenced to 100 years in jail for 1999 murder of journalist Slavko Curuvija
Curuvija, who was gunned down by secret police officers during the 1999 NATO bombing campaign against Serbia, had previously been attacked by media allies of Slobodan Milosevic. The man who pulled the trigger was not among the convicted.
![Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, along with leaders from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, and others, attends the opening ceremony of the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) in Eskisehir, Turkey, 12 June 2018, Kayhan Ozer/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/serbia-natural-gas-tanap-getty.jpg)
Serbia: Editor Milan Jovanović’s house was firebombed
Unidentified individuals threw a molotov cocktail through the journalist’s window in the early hours of 12 December, then fired shots to prevent his family fleeing the burning house.
![A Kosovo Serb man walks past posters featuring Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, in the northern part of the divided town of Mitrovica, Kosovo, 1 February 2018; journalist Stefan Cvetkovic had reported on the murder of Ivanonic, ARMEND NIMANI/AFP/Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/serbia-journalist-disappearance-leader-ivanovic-getty.jpg)
Brief disappearance of journalist Stefan Cvetkovic must be investigated
Corruption reporter Cvetkovic went missing on 13 June, prompting a massive police search operation; on 15 June, the President of Serbia announced that the journalist was alive and undergoing police questioning.
![Link to: Serbian journalist jailed for defaming party officials](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Serbian journalist jailed for defaming party officials
Journalist Stefan Cvetkovic is a well-known critic of the local authorities, against whom he filed a complaint of misuse of public funds in 2014, and recently raised questions about the role of the three officials in various criminal matters.
![Police officers in front of Luka Popov's home, B92](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/serbia_luka_popov_b92_cropped.jpg)
Serbia: Condemnation of radio journalist’s murder
RSF condemns local radio journalist Luka Popov’s murder in northern Serbia and calls on the authorities to do everything possible to bring those responsible to justice.
![Serbia’s Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic speaks and gestures during a press conference to announce the yearly results of the Government in Belgrade, 14 January 2016, AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/serbia_press_conference_2feb2016.jpg)
Serbian journalists take to streets to protest deteriorating media freedom
The media accuse the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of putting political pressure on journalists, while Prime Aleksandar Vucic has described the protests as an “attempt to destabilize” Serbia and has called for parliamentary elections in April, two years ahead of schedule.
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Human Rights House attacked in Serbia
“The property damage at Human Right House is part of the series of violent attacks against journalists, politicians, academics and open-minded government officials in Serbia,” said Robert Herman, vice-president for international programs. “
![Link to: Journalist who writes for anti-corruption website brutally beaten in Serbia](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Journalist who writes for anti-corruption website brutally beaten in Serbia
Investigative journalist Ivan Ninic was beaten in front of his home as he was locking his car. Ninic is the author of approximately 300 articles and investigative stories – a large number of which were published on the anti-corruption website Pistaljka.
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Broadcasting of investigative TV shows postponed over security concerns
TV B92 has announced that it has decided to indefinitely postpone a program called “Reporter.” Their decision was guided by security concerns and the desire to protect their journalists.