Serbian Journalists Association Condemns Attack on Reporters in Pirot

The Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) has strongly condemned an attack on N1 television journalist Gordana Bjeletić and the obstruction of reporting by journalists from the Mašina and Tampon zona news outlets. The incidents occurred during a gathering of Pride caravan opponents in Pirot.

According to UNS, a group of men at the central town square targeted the N1 crew, with Bjeletić being hit in the head by a tomato. She has since reported the attack to the police. Available footage also shows protesters covering the N1 camera. Aleksandar Đokić, a journalist from Mašina, told UNS that participants at the rally prevented him and Sara Stanojković from Tampon zona from reporting, shouting at them to leave.

UNS is demanding that the authorities swiftly identify and penalize those responsible for the attack on Bjeletić. The association stressed that obstructing journalists is unacceptable and that no one has the right to prevent media teams from covering public events.

The Pride caravan in Pirot was canceled due to authorities' assessment that the safety of participants could not be guaranteed amid a tense situation. Men gathered in the local square to protest the event, leading to concerns for the safety of attendees.

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The Association of Journalists of Serbia demands that the authorities urgently identify and punish those responsible for the attack on Gordana Bjeletić, stating that the obstruction of journalists' work is unacceptable and that no one has the right to prevent media teams from reporting on public events.