Newsroom
Assassination of Serbian journalist condemned
BELGRADE 12 June 2001
BELGRADE, 12 June 2001 (OSCE) - The OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia condemns the assassination of Milan Pantic, a journalist of the daily "Vecernje Novosti", that occurred on 11 June 2001 in the city of Jagodina.
According to the first testimonies, the reporter was killed in front of his home, by unknown assailants, in what appears to have been an organized ambush. According to the information the OSCE has received, Mr. Pantic, who was covering several cases related to organized crime in his hometown had previously been the target of several death threats.
"The OSCE Mission to the FRY reiterates that freedom of the press and free speech are important elements of the democratization process. The harming or killing of journalists is a cowardly act of intimidation and a very serious attack against freedom in a democratic society", stated Ambassador Sannino, Head of the OSCE Mission to the FRY.
'Censorship by killing' is unacceptable and the OSCE Mission to the FRY is looking forward to swift action by the responsible Serbian authorities to bring to justice the perpetrators of this crime.
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For further information, please contact Stella Ronner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Belgrade, tel.: +(381-11) 3672 425 or +(381-11) 3672 427; fax: +(381-11) 3672 429
According to the first testimonies, the reporter was killed in front of his home, by unknown assailants, in what appears to have been an organized ambush. According to the information the OSCE has received, Mr. Pantic, who was covering several cases related to organized crime in his hometown had previously been the target of several death threats.
"The OSCE Mission to the FRY reiterates that freedom of the press and free speech are important elements of the democratization process. The harming or killing of journalists is a cowardly act of intimidation and a very serious attack against freedom in a democratic society", stated Ambassador Sannino, Head of the OSCE Mission to the FRY.
'Censorship by killing' is unacceptable and the OSCE Mission to the FRY is looking forward to swift action by the responsible Serbian authorities to bring to justice the perpetrators of this crime.
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For further information, please contact Stella Ronner, Spokesperson, OSCE Mission to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Belgrade, tel.: +(381-11) 3672 425 or +(381-11) 3672 427; fax: +(381-11) 3672 429