Nova.rs reporter Ana Lalic, who spent a night in custody for reporting about the conditions at the Vojvodina Clinical Centre, is among the laureates of the Deutsche Welle Freedom of Speech Award.

The time of a pandemic and state of emergency is bad for free speech, which is why DW selected 17 journalists from four continents who reported for the public interest for the award.

Lalic was accused of “upsetting the public and spreading panic” in early April because she reported on desperate conditions at the Vojvodina Clinical Centre.

Prosecutors stopped pursuing the case several days ago due to lack of evidence.

On Friday, Lalic found that someone slashed her car tires.

“People on the street mostly express support for me, but there are always some who tell me I’m a traitor and that various things should be done to me. It’s unpleasant. But I will not stop doing my job the way I’m doing it, on the contrary, I am even more decisive now,” she told DW.

“I believe that I was released from custody solely because of collegiality and solidarity, not only in Serbia but throughout Europe. Such support is like a kind of shield,” she added.