Serbian ministers discuss blockade of RTS with EU, Quint representatives

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, FM Marko Djuric and Justice Minister Nenad Vojic met with representatives of Quint states and the EU Delegation to Serbia on Friday to inform them of the gravity of the situation regarding an illegal blockade of national public broadcaster RTS and the consequences the attack has for democratic institutions, safety of media professionals and rule of law in the country.

The ministers noted that the illegal blockade was a direct attack on media freedoms, safety of journalists and the fundamental principles of a rule-of-law state, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

It is impermissible that, under the pretext of political dissent, a group of individuals should put themselves above the law consciously and systematically, violate the constitutional and legal rights of others and make impossible the operation of a public broadcaster belonging to all citizens of Serbia, they said.

The ministers especially noted that such actions violated not only domestic legislation, but also binding international conventions on protection of freedom of expression and access to information, which is a violation of the European Human Rights Convention and standards of the Council of Europe, of which Serbia is a member.

The ministers unequivocally confirmed the Serbian government remained firmly committed to protect institutions while respecting democratic standards, and ensure order and lawfulness and defend the right of all journalists to work freely and without pressure.

They also said they expected the international community to speak out clearly in defence of those values.

"Public gatherings are freely allowed, but preventing employees from doing their job and from entering a building, as well as thwarting broadcasts, is not. Those are criminal acts," the ministers said.

"The public broadcaster needs to continue to work and institutions need to function, in line with the law and in the interests of the citizens," they also said.