Journalist Veran Matić: Impunity for threats encourages more violence in Serbia

Journalist Veran Matić has reported a surge in threats, including calls for his hanging and public execution, to Serbia's special prosecutor's office for high-tech crime. Matić stated that he has reported approximately ten such threats since the beginning of the year, but none have resulted in any resolution.

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This impunity and the signal being sent by the prosecution, the court, and the police that no one will be punished motivates those who threaten.

"We don't have a single resolved case this year out of all the numerous cases; not even an investigation has started, no indictment has been filed," Matić told N1. He described the threats as coming in series, with the same authors appearing every few days. "This impunity and the signal being sent by the prosecution, the court, and the police that no one will be punished motivates those who threaten," he added.

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We have threats that are systemic - whoever threatens with the Black Hand, he was identified a year ago in Novi Sad, where he lives and everything about him, he doesn't even hide much on social media. We have submitted all of that to the prosecution and there is absolutely no reaction.

Matić pointed to a specific instance where over ten threats were made under a single social media post. He also cited a "systemic" threat from an individual associated with the "Black Hand" group, who he claims has been identified for over a year but faces no consequences. Matić believes there is a political agenda to prevent these cases from being investigated, leaving critics vulnerable. He warned that this inaction will likely lead to an increase in both threats and physical attacks.

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We are seriously accelerating towards dictatorship and autocratic rule.

The journalist also expressed concern about the general state of affairs in Serbia, describing it as a "serious acceleration towards dictatorship and autocratic rule." He noted that individuals documenting or commemorating events, like filmmaker Stevan Filipović or writer Vladimir Arsenijević, face threats of violence. Matić further alleged that the police are not providing protection but are instead involved in violence against journalists, civil society, and students, questioning the integrity of law enforcement.

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We no longer know who is in the police. Is it a disguised criminal under uniform, someone released from prison to deal with journalists, civil society organizations and students, or a blind enforcer of orders to beat journalists.