UNS: Authorities should prosecute those responsible for threats against Lazarevac portal editor

The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) has called on authorities to swiftly identify and prosecute the individual responsible for threatening Marija Popović, the editor of the Lazarevac-based online portal Pravo u centar. Popović reported receiving severe threats, including sexual violence and being disposed of in a sewer, from a man who appeared to be wearing a Serbian Army uniform.

Popović stated that the threats were reported to the War Crimes Prosecutor's Office's Department for High-Tech Crime on the previous day. She described the perpetrator's Instagram profile picture as showing him in a Serbian Army uniform, accompanied by the chilling message that "a military man never retires." UNS has urged the Ministry of Defense to take immediate disciplinary measures if the individual is confirmed to be a member of the Serbian Army.

This incident is not the first time Popović has faced such harassment. UNS highlighted that she has previously received sexist threats, which they categorize as not only an attempt to intimidate and prevent a journalist from reporting in the public interest but also as a form of gender-based violence. The association emphasized that under the Serbian Criminal Code, threatening individuals performing public service through information dissemination carries a penalty of six months to five years in prison.

The UNS's appeal underscores the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in Serbia, particularly women, who are often targets of online abuse and threats. The association's call for action aims to ensure accountability and protect journalists carrying out their professional duties.