Media organizations in Serbia have raised concerns over recent incidents where journalists were denied access to monitor electoral commissions in the cities of Pančevo and Vranje. The Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists (SRG) has called for an immediate response from the Republic Election Commission (RIK) to address these issues, emphasizing the importance of transparency in the electoral process.

In Pančevo, journalists from local outlets Panpress and Pančevo Si Ti were reportedly barred from observing the activities of the City Election Commission. Despite their prior requests to cover the electoral proceedings, these requests went unanswered. Nenad Živković, the editor of Pančevo Si Ti, was reportedly forced to leave the City Administration building by security personnel. Similarly, Mihajlo Stojković, editor of the InfoVranjske portal, faced a similar situation in Vranje, where he was escorted out by security under the pretext of lacking accreditation from the RIK.

The SRG highlighted that, according to Serbian electoral law, the operations of election bodies are required to be public. This includes the RIK, local electoral commissions, and polling boards, all of which must facilitate public access to their work. The SRG stressed that if local commission regulations require media accreditation, it is imperative to issue such credentials promptly to all journalists wishing to monitor the commissions. Otherwise, the principle of public access should be upheld as per the law.

The SRG has urged the RIK to take immediate action in response to these documented instances of restricted access. They have called for the RIK to clearly communicate to all local, city, and municipal election commissions their obligation to ensure the transparency of their operations. Furthermore, the SRG demands that authorities investigate the accountability of individuals who obstructed journalists and ensure that conditions are established for uninterrupted media coverage of the electoral process.

The Republic Election Commission maintains that the work of local electoral commissions is open to the public and that it does not issue or mandate media accreditations for journalists attending local commission meetings or activities. The SRG’s call for action underscores the ongoing challenges faced by media professionals in Serbia, who have previously reported difficulties in accessing information and covering public events.

This situation is part of a broader context where media freedom in Serbia has been under scrutiny. Previous protests and statements from media organizations have highlighted ongoing issues regarding press freedom and access to information. Recent incidents of restricted media access during public events have further raised alarms about the state of journalism in the country.

The response from the RIK to the SRG’s demands remains unclear, which could impact the urgency and effectiveness of the media’s ability to report on the electoral process. The lack of diverse voices from affected journalists or additional context from the electoral commissions involved may also influence the narrative surrounding these incidents.

As the situation develops, the SRG continues to advocate for the rights of journalists to perform their duties without obstruction, emphasizing the critical role of a free press in ensuring transparency and accountability in democratic processes.