On 15th anniversary of killing Milan Pantić, OSCE Representative urges authorities in Serbia to intensify efforts to solve murders of journalists

VIENNA, 11 June 2016 – On the 15th anniversary of the murder of Serbian journalist Milan Pantić, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović called on authorities in Serbia to step up their efforts in investigating this and other journalist killings.

“The authorities have a duty to ensure that perpetrators and masterminds behind attacks against journalists do not go unpunished,” Mijatović said. “Fifteen years on after the horrific murder of Pantić, justice has still not been served.”

Pantić, a journalist with the daily “Vecernje Novosti” was killed by unknown assailants on 11 June 2001 in front of his home in the city of Jagodina. He had received several death threats.

The Representative recalled other unsolved cases in Serbia, including the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija in 1999, the death of Dada Vujasinović in 1994, and other attacks on journalists not being investigated. She also reiterated her support for the 2014 initiative by the authorities establishing a commission to speed up investigations into the deaths of Serbian journalists.

“The authorities must intensify their efforts to solve and effectively prevent crimes against members of the media, and investigate all attacks on journalists,” Mijatović said. “I will continue to closely monitor progress on the investigation of the murder of Milan Pantić and all other cases of journalists killed in OSCE participating States.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.