Marko Vidojković doesn’t laugh very much. He is one of those serious and cautious journalists who consider his profession almost priestly. And it’s paradoxical in a way, because it’s what brings him into the limelight. Criticisms against the government in Serbia; His criticisms come from the humor and sarcastic sarcasm he uses in his podcast ‘Good, bad, bad’, which has reached 100,000 listeners in a country with a population of 6.6 million. The success that brought it death threats daily. That’s why he had to leave the country for a few months this year with his wife (who also says he was threatened because of his job). His case was this: Powered by PEN InternationalHe says that there are some associations of Serbian independent journalists, as well as the world writers’ association, which brings together about 25,000 members worldwide, but politics has turned its back on him.
“The problem is that Serbia This is not a democracyOne autocracy. “That’s why there is a war against critical journalism,” he says bluntly from Belgrade, where he has temporarily returned while awaiting the election results of early parliamentary elections this Sunday. I must go again in a few weeks,” adds this 48-year-old historian, 23 of whom have been on the job.
Data from the Association of Independent Journalists of Serbia (IJAS) show how Serbia works takes a break from journalism independent. So far this year IJAS has documented: 168 violations This punishment against journalists across the country (31 more than in 2022) includes all kinds of threats, physical attacks, as well as repression of varying degrees and severity. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Serbia has overcome this situation. From position 54 in 2004 63 years old Today. Moreover, unlike countries such as Italy, where the State supports large numbers of journalists attacked by organized crime, Serbian journalists find themselves major lack of protection against these abuses. A similar complaint also comes from non-governmental organizations.
Persistent attacks
In fact, in many international reports referenced, the difficult situation of the independent press in Serbia is repeatedly highlighted. matter of concern. Two examples. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) condemned “Verbal pressure and persistent attacks“From high positions within the state and at the same time”lack of critical coverage” About the Government in the country’s media. While the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs on Serbia criticized “the misuse of the media by the government majority to gain a right” unfair advantageattacks political rivals and spreads disinformation.
One of the consequences for democracy lack of objectivity According to Zoran Gavrilović, executive director of the Birodi Institute, when reporting news about political and economic power. “How can there be pluralism and democracy if (Serbian President Aleksandr) Vucic almost monopolizes television and 90% of the information about him is uncritical?” Gavrilović said. says.
Veran Matic It has been under protection for eight years and is now part of a permanent working group on the safety of journalists. They are coming to him When the majority of Serbian informants were forced to file a complaint. Explain that this is the result there are fewer and fewer people profession, since most people eventually resign and They choose to leave their job Because of this hostile climate, and often this also requires facing serious economic difficulties. “We are trying to develop tools that allow us to protect journalists from threats and violence, but it is difficult to create prevention mechanisms when you have to confront representatives of the executive branch,” he says.
spyware
Another problem is the judicial systemgiven almost no process Serbian journalists condemned the threats against journalists that resulted in the decision. And even more: often abuse This is also done with increasingly complex tools offered by technological development. This also concerns civil society. The last complaint, published on 28 November, was that of Amnesty International (AI) against two pro-democracy activists who openly criticized the Government after their mobile phones were subjected to a hacking attempt. infection via spyware According to this organization, people with advanced or military ranks.
The AI investigation, which also collaborated with the Share Foundation, Citizen Lab and Access Now, was launched after two victims received a warning from Apple that they could be the target of “state-sponsored attackers.” “Forensic fingerprints observed on both devices are consistent with attack techniques previously used to distribute spyware.” pegasus“AI explained.