ANEM Head Veran Matic Testifies to Prosecution Amidst Smear Campaign

Veran Matic, chairman of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) in Serbia, has provided a statement to the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office concerning a reported attack and a subsequent smear campaign. Matic also reported that the tabloids Alo and Informer have intensified their attacks against him with a fresh wave of insults and falsehoods.

According to ANEM, these media outlets published CCTV footage from the Serbian Parliament, accompanied by reports containing at least three fabrications. They falsely claimed Matic filmed people without cause, harassed them, and assaulted a young man. In his statement to the prosecution, Matic detailed his feeling of being threatened since August of the previous year.

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Following that statement, Matic requested a security risk assessment. A month later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed him that there were elements threatening his safety and that a decision had been made to increase patrols near his place of residence. He was also informed that the assessment was made, among other things, based on knowledge that an individual who had been in prison in Nis had planned to kill Veran Matic.

His sense of danger escalated after Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic publicly stated on national television that convictions against individuals imprisoned due to Matic's actions should be nullified, even offering to personally apologize and bring them liquor. Following this statement, Matic requested a security risk assessment. A month later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed him of elements threatening his safety and decided to increase patrols near his residence.

ANEM highlighted that the police recently informed Matic that the increased patrols are still in effect. The association strongly condemned the escalating and increasingly dangerous attacks not only against Matic but also against numerous other journalists in Serbia. ANEM appealed to the European Commission and other international bodies to insist on halting the rise of threats and attacks targeting media professionals in the country, emphasizing that "A Serbia without independent and professional media is a country without a future."

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Attacks on Veran Matic are becoming increasingly frequent and dangerous, as are attacks on numerous other journalists in Serbia. ANEM calls on the European Commission and other international institutions to insist on stopping the escalation of attacks and threats directed against journalists and media in Serbia. A Serbia without independent and professional media is a country without a future.