Serbia: IFJ demands president to investigate the killing of journalist Milan Pantić

Aleksandar Vučić

President of Serbia

Mr President,

Journalism is the only civilian occupation where significant numbers lose their lives as a result of systematic and deliberate acts. Serbia, as too many other countries around the world, is suffering from these acts.

The only way to stop and prevent such acts is to find the murderers and their sponsors, arrest them and deliver them to national justice.

We commemorated Slavko Curuvija’s killing, nearly 25 years ago, in Belgrade, last 11th of April.

On behalf of the International Federation of journalists (IFJ)* I paid homage to his memory by going to the very spot where he was killed and offering flowers.

Are we right to believe that the verdict was passed in May, but has not yet been announced, which is unacceptable ?

Could it be possible that the verdict would be „Not guilty“ when twice before the Court found the defendants „Guilty“ ?

We hope not, because it would be a terrible disaster and a defeat for democracy in Serbia. For all journalists, it would mean that impunity exists for journalists’ murderers. It would send a very bad message outside while, when the „Commission for Investigation of Murders of Journalists“ was established in 2013 and indictment was raised in 2014, Serbia jumped on the list of the world Media Freedom Index – Reporters Without Borders. Any acquittal would represent a nasty blow to press freedom in Serbia.

During my stay in Belgrade in April, we had two appointments. The first one with journalists from the whole country. They insisted on how they felt insecure, particularly those living and working in regional or local places.

This is precisely the case of our colleague Milan Pantić. This journalist was killed on the 11th of june 2001 in Jagodina. All indications were that the motives were the articles he was working on. It was a terrible shock. The community expected for the murder to be solved very quickly, because it happened in the morning, in the urban part of the town. That didn’t happen.

This is why there was an alert put on the Council of Europe „Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists“ in early 2023. There is, up to now, no answer from the Serbian government. As a result, the terrible and shameful „impunity“ could be associated with Serbian authorities.

Last year, on the United Nations International Day to End Impunity, our Serbian affiliates learned that the investigation file regarding the murder of Milan Pantić had been transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime. Nothing new ever since.

The second appointment in April was with „the Permanent Group for the Security and Protection of Journalists“. It was very interesting, but very frustrating. The judicial authorities were not represented, due to, as was said to us, a last minute problem.

Mr President, we can’t be satisfied with this. We plead you to – urgently – ask the concerned authorities in charge to go through this case where, according to our information, many testimonies and evidence have not been taken into account.

We, the International Federation of Journalists, pledge your support to our Serbian colleagues, who need the truth about Milan Pantić’s killing.

We thank you for ensuring that, in your country, impunity is not the rule.

We send you our respectful regards.

Dominique Pradalié

Journalist and President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).