IFJ condemns "outrageous threats" to Tanjug journalists

BELGRADE - In a reaction to recent threats to Tanjug journalists, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Chief Project Manager Jeremy Dear said the federation completely condemned the "outrageous threats" to journalists doing their professional duty.

"There is no place for such vile and threatening behaviour towards journalists simply for doing their professional duty," Dear said in a statement to Tanjug after a Belgrade conference on establishing social dialogue between media employers and unions.

"We completely condemn these outrageous threats against journalists who are just going about their professional duty. It is crucial that such threats are properly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice, and that measures are put in place to ensure that journalists can work safely and can work in freedom," he said.

"Journalism is not a crime and journalists must be allowed to work freely," Dear noted.

Earlier this week, Tanjug received an email signed by an individual named "Trim Bardhi" that said Tanjug journalists would get "a bullet to the back of their heads" the next time they set foot in the territory of Serbia's Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija.