“YOU ARE A SECURITY THREAT”: SNS security personnel prevented Nova and Glas Zaječara journalists from covering the ruling party’s rally!

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) condemned the fact that security personnel at tonight’s election rally of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Zaječar prevented journalists from Nova S and Glas Zaječara from reporting.

In a statement, ANEM said that security personnel at the rally pushed, detained and ultimately prevented Nova S journalist Katarina Golubović and Miljko Stojanović and Đorđe Đorđević from Glas Zaječara from covering the ruling party’s public rally.

“Nova S and Glas Zaječara journalists were told that they ‘represent a security threat’ while SNS security personnel pushed them away, stopped them and ultimately prevented them from doing their journalistic work. Some security personnel struck the Glas Zaječara camera,” the statement said.

ANEM said it was documenting an established practice in which certain journalists are prevented from covering public rallies of SNS and the “United Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić” electoral list.

“Attacks on journalists, pushing, insults, and physical and verbal confrontations with reporters whose job is to convey information of public importance have become an integral part of the SNS campaign for the parliamentary elections,” the statement said.

ANEM called on the police present at these rallies to intervene, prevent attacks and physical and verbal confrontations, and enable all media representatives whose aim is to inform the public about events of public importance to do their work.

“During the election campaign alone, ANEM has recorded a series of attacks on and instances of independent journalists being prevented from covering public rallies of SNS and the ‘United Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić’ electoral list. Journalists in Kragujevac, Bečej, Ruma, Zrenjanin and Niš were prevented from reporting,” the statement said.