{"id":1514,"date":"2025-07-23T14:19:45","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T12:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gradjanske.vuksha.com\/the-presidents-call-to-lynch-veran-matic-is-an-act-of-political-desperation-and-a-brutal-message-against-the-rule-of-law\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T14:54:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T12:54:05","slug":"the-presidents-call-to-lynch-veran-matic-is-an-act-of-political-desperation-and-a-brutal-message-against-the-rule-of-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gradjanske.vuksha.com\/en\/the-presidents-call-to-lynch-veran-matic-is-an-act-of-political-desperation-and-a-brutal-message-against-the-rule-of-law\/","title":{"rendered":"The president’s call to lynch Veran Mati\u0107 is an act of political desperation and a brutal message against the rule of law"},"content":{"rendered":"
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July 23, 2025 <\/em><\/p>\n\n

Civil society warns of increasingly dangerous smear campaigns against media workers, the consequences of which can seriously threaten their safety. These attacks come from the highest public positions in Serbia. President Vu\u010di\u0107’s statement, which demands that Veran Mati\u0107 apologize to the people who were accused of murdering journalist Slavko \u0106uruvija and “take them a bottle of wine”, represents an unequivocal and dangerous political message: that targeting and calling for revenge against those who fight for truth and justice is once again allowed in Serbia.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Veran Mati\u0107 dedicated his life to freedom of speech, protection of journalists, building a culture of solidarity and charity in our country. As part of his charitable work, Veran launched the “Battle for Babies” initiative<\/strong>, which enabled maternity hospitals across Serbia to receive more than 220 incubators and thereby save the lives of thousands of babies. Through the establishment of the Serbian Philanthropic Forum and management of the B92 Fund, he mobilized the public, companies and institutions to engage in numerous humanitarian actions in the areas of health, education and media freedom<\/strong>. He particularly distinguished himself in the collection and distribution of aid during emergency situations such as the floods of 2014 and the COVID-19 pandemic, showing that media influence combined with social responsibility has a direct positive effect on raising the level of social solidarity and finding systemic solutions to problems that directly affect the lives of citizens. <\/p>\n\n

In addition, Veran Mati\u0107 has consistently and courageously protected the safety of journalists in Serbia for decades – from the establishment of the Commission for Investigating the Murders of Journalists, through the SOS telephone to help journalist<\/strong>s, which he personally answered, to the constant support of local media throughout Serbia, in the most difficult conditions of pressure and threats. While Mati\u0107 was with his colleagues, the state was symbolically and institutionally absent.<\/strong> The most painful example of this remains the fact that the case of the murder of Slavko \u0106uruvija, after all the years and trials, did not receive its epilogue and justice.<\/p>\n\n

By calling for revenge against a man dedicated to truth and the public good, the president shows that he uses his position to attack defenders of freedom of speech, while at the same time absolving bullies and providing protection to those who brutally attack citizens with fists, baseballs and cars.<\/strong> With this act, the president continues to stand openly on the side of violence and impunity, clearly showing that crime and violence are not incidents, but state policy.<\/p>\n\n

Therefore, we, the undersigned civil society organizations, call on the competent institutions to act professionally and conscientiously, protect the personal safety of Veran Mati\u0107 and reject the political practice of impunity for violence, and citizens to be persistent and united in the fight for responsibility.<\/p>\n\n

In a responsible society, the president of the state, when he gives up and loses power, does not call for lynching.<\/p>\n\n

In a responsible society, people like Veran Mati\u0107 are protected and rewarded – not targeted.<\/p>\n\n

Civil society organizations – signatories:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n