03. 06. 2004

Socialist party security attack journalist

LESKOVAC, June 3, 2004 – Private security guards physically assaulted a FoNet journalist at an election campaign rally of the Socialist Party of Serbia in the south Serbian town of Leskovac on Wednesday. Two members of the security team engaged by the party attacked FoNet's Leskovac correspondent Ljiljana Stojanovic. The incident occurred in the cinema of the Union Hall when Stojanovic attempted to photograph Socialist presidential candidate Ivica Dacic. Employees of the Djurovic security agency pushed Stojanovic away in full sight of the public and swore at her when she resisted. One of the assailants threatened to beat her after she removed a t-shirt with the logo of her agency. The harassment continued after she left the hall with other journalists and the ensuing loud argument was eventually stopped by Socialist activists. Other journalists who urged the security guards to stop harassing the FoNet correspondent were also subjected to rough treatment.