The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) condemned the attacks on freedom of speech in Serbia and called the authorities to stop labelling the media.

“N1 TV is faced with a campaign of threats and pressure coming from state officials,” a joint statement said.  

The IFJ and EFJ said they are joining the Serbian Journalists Association (UNS) and Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) in condemning the pressure.

The IFJ and EFJ feel that threats against the media are unacceptable and called the government and opposition leaders to stop harassing, insulting and attacking the media whose reporting they dislike.

The two organizations recalled that they warned on the Council of Europe platform for the protection and safety of journalists in February that death threats had been made against N1 staff. The IFJ statement said that the goal of the government is to compromise and intimidate the TV station by labeling it as anti-Serb.

The IFJ, EFJ statement comes after a letter that Adria News sent to a number of international organizations warning of pressure and threats against N1 by state officials and government-controlled media.