Journalist barred from military exercise, claims retaliation

Journalist Davor Lukač of the weekly "Vreme" has been barred from reporting on a military exercise at "Pasuljanske livade," despite having properly accredited himself. Lukač, who spoke to N1, believes the decision is direct retaliation for his past reporting, which has not always been favorable to the military establishment.

Lukač described the process as standard: he submitted his accreditation electronically, providing his name, publication, and ID number. He received no confirmation, which he noted is typical. However, upon arriving at the barracks, a military police officer informed him he was not on the list and denied him entry without providing a reason. An officer listed as a contact also refused to offer an explanation.

This is not the first time Lukač has faced such restrictions. He and photojournalist Srđan Ilić of Insajder were also denied access to the military exercise. Last year, on September 20, Lukač and other journalists were similarly barred from attending a military parade in Belgrade, with the only explanation given being "security reasons."

Lukač explicitly stated that he believes this is revenge from within military circles for his media analyses. "All of this is because of my writing, which was not to their liking, and I am not one of those who write eulogies," he said. "This doesn't mean I am against the army, but I am against idiots in the army and senseless projects. And I am directly targeted by the Military Security Agency (VBA); they even showed me some people who are following me."

Military analyst Aleksandar Radić, who recently left Serbia after pro-government media published surveillance footage of him and his minor daughter, also faced scrutiny and searches of his home and office. Radić attributed his situation to retaliation from military circles over his media commentary. Lukač echoed this sentiment, suggesting a pattern of pressure against critical voices within Serbia's defense sector.

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All of this is because of my writing, which was not to my liking, and I am not one of those who write eulogies. This doesn't mean I am against the army, but I am against idiots in the army and senseless projects. And I am directly targeted by the Military Security Agency (VBA); they even showed me some people who are following me.