
03
Jun 2019
Lvl. 1
State replied
Alert created on: 14 Dec 2018
n° 140/2018
Serbia
Investigative Journalist Milan Jovanović Attacked with Molotov Cocktail
Source of threatUnknown
CategoryAttacks on physical safety and integrity of journalists
On 12 December 2018, the house of Milan Jovanović, an investigative journalist for the independent news website Žig Info, was set ablaze at 3:30 am in Vrčin when a Molotov cocktail was thrown through his garage window and unidentified persons fired shots at his front door to prevent the family from leaving the house, local and regional media reported. Mr Jovanović and his wife were able to escape through the back window and watched as their entire property, including a car, burned down. Jovanovic was not injured, but he claimed that the fire occurred because of his articles targeting the mafia in the municipality of Grocka, 20 km from Belgrade. The journalist reported on the "suddenly acquired property" of the head of the local Grocka municipality, as well as alleging corruption in the construction of sewage systems, after which local authorities cut down his water supply. Following the attack, he has filed several complaints to the police and written two letters to Serbian President Aleksander Vučić asking him to intervene and ensure he can work without fear of reprisal. Žig Info editor Zeljko Matorcevic said Jovanović received threats in July, after their reports on alleged misconduct in the municipality were published, according to the report.
Updates
03 Jun 2019
On 24 May 2019, the former head of the Grocka municipality, Dragoljub Simonovic, who was arrested and spent 30 days in remand custody, went on trial before a Belgrade court along with three other persons. Simonovic was charged with ordering the arson attack on Jovanovic’s home. The prosecution requested the maximum penalty of eight years of imprisonment.
Additional Information
- Mapping Media Freedom report: "Serbia: Investigative journalist Milan Jovanovic’s home torched after reports on local authority corruption"
- N1 report: "Serbian president condemns attack on journalist"
- Article published on Cenzolovka: "Pokušaj ubistva novinara Milana Jovanovića: Spaljena kuća, pucano na ulazna vrata"
- CPJ report: "Serbian investigative journalist targeted with arson attack"
State replies
Reply from the Serbian authorities (information from the Ministry of Interior)