BELGRADE — An international coalition of media freedom organizations has issued a stark warning that Serbian authorities must take immediate action to halt a "spiral of violence" targeting the nation's press. Following a mission to Belgrade in late March 2026, the group assessed that the country is trapped in a downward trend characterized by unprecedented levels of physical assault and political intimidation.

The mission documented 294 press freedom violations involving over 500 media professionals since November 2024—a period marked by nationwide protests following the deadly train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad. In just the first few months of 2026, the Supreme Public Prosecution Office reported a 367% increase in criminal cases related to physical attacks on media workers.

Despite these alarming figures, the coalition highlighted a "fundamental disconnect" between the reality on the ground and the response of state officials. While National Assembly President Ana Brnabić committed to improving the government's response rate to international alerts, the mission noted that 85% of press freedom alerts from Serbia in 2025 went unanswered by the state.

The report further identified "media capture" and the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) as key tools to silence independent outlets. Investigative outlet KRIK, for example, is currently fighting 14 different legal actions aimed at curtailing its reporting. With local elections in March accompanied by further reports of violence against reporters, the coalition warned that the continued breakdown of the rule of law threatens not only journalists' safety but also Serbia’s aspirations for European Union accession.