A group of prominent editors has raised alarms over media freedom in Serbia, describing it as a “dangerous turning point” due to mounting pressure from government officials and state-run media.

“The media landscape in Serbia is at a perilous juncture,” the editors stated in an open letter signed by leaders from five media outlets, including Igor Božić, news director of N1 Serbia, a CNN-affiliated organization, according to the British Guardian.

The editors, affiliated with the independent media group United Media, noted that their journalists are experiencing “constant harassment, physical attacks, and smear campaigns” amid ongoing protests against autocratic President Aleksandar Vučić, as reported.

This public statement follows what appears to be the largest anti-corruption protest in Serbian history this month. The mass demonstration in Belgrade was the result of four months of anti-government protests triggered by a catastrophic incident at the Novi Sad train station last November, which resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals, the article highlights.

Civil society groups have been cautioning for months about an increasingly hostile climate for independent media since the tragedy, which ignited a political backlash against Vučić’s pro-Russian administration.

“The government is intensifying its attacks on independent journalism, especially targeting media within United Media, as the political crisis escalates and public frustration rises. Rather than confronting the genuine issues facing citizens, the government is promoting misleading narratives that label independent media as foreign agents and adversaries of the state. Consequently, our journalists are facing attacks, bans from official events, and are subjected to disinformation designed to erode public trust,” reported the Guardian.

The non-governmental organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) indicated that media pressure in Serbia has reached unprecedented levels not seen since the 1990s. They have also urged the EU to denounce the raid on the offices of the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), a well-known NGO that operates a fact-checking website, as stated in the report.

Pavol Salaj, head of RSF’s EU and Balkans division, noted in the Guardian that Serbia ranked 98th out of 180 countries in last year’s global press freedom index — the lowest position since the index’s inception 22 years ago.

Numerous incidents of aggression towards independent journalists have been documented since the train station tragedy. Late last year, N1 journalist Žaklina Tatalović and cameraman Nikola Popović were subjected to harassment while covering a protest. Local media freedom organizations reported that they faced sexist insults and physical violence, with police accused of inaction in response, as detailed in the article.

Another N1 journalist, Jelena Mirković, was assaulted while reporting on a protest concerning a bridge demolition and sustained a neck injury that rendered her unable to work. Recently, N1 journalist Ksenija Pavkov faced verbal threats while on assignment, the report notes.

In their letter, the editors allege that Vučić has wrongly accused journalists of “stirring unrest,” as reported by the Guardian. They also emphasize that financial and regulatory tactics are being employed to dissuade advertisers and business partners, further complicating the media landscape.

“With student protests ongoing and a dissolved government awaiting new elections, we are profoundly concerned for our journalists’ safety on the ground,” they wrote. “The escalating hostility towards independent media, fueled by coordinated government rhetoric, has fostered an environment where violence is not only tolerated but encouraged. In just the past four months, our female journalists, including Žaklina Tatalović, Ksenija Pavkov, and Jelena Mirković, have faced physical and verbal assaults. Despite clear evidence on video of the assailants, the police have taken no action to ensure justice,” they conveyed in an open letter featured in the Guardian.

Over half a million individuals have signed an online petition demanding an independent investigation into allegations that Serbian security forces employed sonic weapons — labeled as a “sonic cannon” — during the protests on March 15. Vučić continues to grapple with immense pressure, facing the most challenging period of his rule. Protests have become commonplace in Serbia since November, and the president has attempted to deflect blame amidst a series of resignations following the accident at the train station, according to the Guardian.

“The Serbian government, led by Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, officially resigned last week, with Vučić announcing potential elections in June. Protesters are calling for accountability regarding the Novi Sad disaster and demanding more transparent institutions grounded in the rule of law. Over a dozen individuals have been charged in connection with the canopy collapse. On Friday, it was reported that a teenager succumbed to injuries sustained in the incident,” the British media outlet reported.

Approximately 325,000 people participated in the March 15 protests in Belgrade, although the government contested these estimates. Footage revealed the crowd abruptly dispersing, with several individuals exhibiting symptoms associated with sonic weapon usage. However, senior government officials and police have denied deploying such weapons. Vučić has labeled the assertion a “malicious falsehood,” intended to “destroy Serbia,” the Guardian concluded.

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