Independent Journalists in Serbia Continue to Face Threats 24 Years After Prominent Editor's Killing
Date
4/12/2023 5:25:12 AM
(MENAFN) On April 11, 1999, Slavko Curuvija, a prominent editor and newspaper publisher known for his criticisms of the government in Belgrade, was shot dead at the entrance to his Belgrade apartment during the NATO bombing of Serbia over its crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists. This week marked the 24th anniversary of his killing, which became a symbol of the struggle for a free press in Serbia.
Independent media organizations, both local and international, warn that critical journalists still face threats because of their work in Serbia. The government of populist President Aleksandar Vucic, who was information minister at the time of Curuvija’s death, maintains tight control over mainstream media outlets, according to these organizations.
Four state security officials were charged with planning and carrying out Curuvija's killing, but no final verdict has been reached despite several retrials and appeals. The lack of accountability for Curuvija's murder is seen as a reflection of the broader challenges facing independent media in Serbia, where critical journalists still face threats from government officials and from many tabloids that are firmly under Vucic’s control.
On the anniversary of Curuvija's death, independent Serbian journalists gathered to remember him and demand justice. Foreign rights groups, including the Media Freedom Rapid Response group, also attended the gatherings to show their support. The group expressed concern about the current climate for independent and investigative journalism in Serbia, citing recent death threats and pressure against leading journalists.
"It is alarming that leading journalists are still receiving death threats and being branded with the same dangerous labels of ‘traitors’ and ‘foreign mercenaries’ that were used to lay the groundwork for Curuvija’s assassination," the Media Freedom Rapid Response group said in a statement. "Despite repeated attempts by the Milosevic regime to shut down his newspapers, the journalist refused to be cowed into silence and paid the ultimate price for his bravery."
Curuvija's killing was part of a wider crackdown on independent media by the regime of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, who regarded Curuvija as an enemy of the state. The state-run media controlled by Milosevic’s family accused him of "inviting" NATO to bomb Serbia, which was in response to Milosevic’s bloody crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2006.
Overall, the continued threats and violence against independent journalists in Serbia highlight the challenges of promoting a free and open press in countries with repressive governments. Despite the risks, these journalists remain committed to their work and continue to demand accountability for those who seek to silence them.
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