Mijatovic backs better atmosphere in media

VIENNA - Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Dunja Mijatovic said in her regular six-month report on freedom of the media in Serbia that her office is ready to help improve the situation in the media in the country, and she also called on the government to protect the freedom of the Internet.

“On 2 June I spoke with Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic regarding my statement and the issue of online censorship and informed him that the trend of removing websites and blocking online resources and comments must be reversed. He assured me that he and his government will tackle these issues. Prime Minister Vucic and I agreed to meet at the earliest possible time in order to discuss these and other media related issues,” Mijatovic said in her report.

“On 27 May I issued a public statement to express my concern about a worrying trend of online censorship and urged the authorities to nurture uncensored debate on issues of public interest, especially in times of crisis, such as the current situation with flooding in the region,” she said in the report.

“I also brought to light the detention and police interrogation of persons for allegedly spreading panic. I stated that arresting individuals because of their blogs, comments or other written content is not acceptable. I urged the authorities to put an end to this trend and stop interfering with the work of online media outlets,” Mijatovic noted.

The report also mentions the letter Mijatovic's office received from Slavka Draskovic, Director of the Serbian Government's Office for the Diaspora, on November 29 regarding the pressure on the Serbian minority in Croatia and further enhancement of hate speech in the...