OSCE sulle elezioni locali in Serbia: livelli senza precedenti di violenza e intimidazione nei confronti dei giornalisti

>**OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Jan Braathu said on Monday that “violence and intimidation of journalists reached unprecedented levels” during Sunday’s local elections in Serbia, and urged Serbian authorities to “publicly and unequivocally condemn” such acts.**

>“**Yesterday’s elections in 10 Serbian municipalities were marked by numerous documented obstructions and physical attacks against journalists,**” Braathu wrote in a post on X, and called on the Serbian law enforcement and prosecution authorities to protect freedom of media and safety of journalists and to investigate and prosecute perpetrators.

>“**Safety of journalists is a state commitment and responsibility,**” Braathu said, emphasizing that “**differences of political opinion do not justify violence and intimidation.**”

>In a statement, Braathu recalled Serbia’s obligation to comply with OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 3/18 on the safety of journalists, adopted in Milan in 2018. This decision is considered a milestone, as it requires OSCE participating states to prevent, investigate, and prosecute crimes against journalists.

>The decision affirms that journalists, media actors, and all others who contribute to public discourse must be protected from threats and violence. It also calls on states to investigate crimes against journalists and hold the perpetrators accountable.