April 04, 2020

Serbian reporter arrested over pandemic article

topic:	Freedom of Expression
located:	Serbia
editor:	Katarina Panić

Serbian journalist Ana Lalić published the article 'Clinical Center Vojvodina about to crack: No protection for nurses' on Wednesday afternoon, April 1. A few hours later, six policemen came to her home in Novi Sad, searched her apartment, kept a laptop and two mobile phones, and brought her to the police station. She was ordered to stay in custody for 48 hours "on suspicion that she could repeat the crime - publishing texts that cause panic and disorder".

Following the government's statement that 20 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Serbia's northern province are medical workers, her story was about poor and chaotic working conditions, lack of essential equipment, especially protective gear, improvisation instead of organisation and staff not appropriately trained. She also wrote that she had tried to get the answers from hospital and government officials, but none of them responded. Instead, the hospital management called the police and the prosecutor's office to report "the public disturbance and damage to its reputation".

It turned out that Lalić is the first victim of Serbia's new rule which says all information about the pandemic must go to central Crisis Staff in Belgrade, led by the PM’s office, before being shared with the public.

"Information on health measures taken and other information related to the treatment of COVID-19 given to the public by unauthorised persons, cannot be considered accurate and verified," the decree reads. It also allows "the possibility of applying regulations relating to liability and legal consequences for the spread of misinformation in a state of emergency."

Both the public and journalistic community immediately reacted furiously. The local and international rights organisations stood against misusing the crisis to curb press freedom and freedom of speech. The criticism forced the government to revoke coronavirus information control decree as well as to release the journalist the very next morning.

"It is my fault that we brought in something like this and it is also my stupidity that when we brought it in, I did not explain it. We are going to withdraw the regulation so not a shadow could be cast on our work", the Prime Minister Ana Brnabić told the public said a broadcaster of Serbia, RTS.

"I am confused. That is the only answer I'm able to give right now", Ana Lalić told local media after being released. "If the decree was indeed repealed, it was worth the night in custody", she added.

Image Ana Lalic, journalist (youtube)

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