International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) expressed a deep concern regarding the disappearance of a Serbian journalist Stefan Cvetković on the night between 13th and 14th of June 2018, as reported by the local authorities.
Stefan Cvetković has been reported missing on the night between 13th and 14th of June 2018 in the Vojvodina town of Bela Crkva. Local police confirmed that journalist’s car was found parked with doors open and light on. Witnesses confirmed that his wristwatch was found with the bracelet broken next to it, and mobile phones switched off. Serbian authorities are sweeping the territory surrounding the place where the car was found, engaging divers, police dogs and special forces.
The IFJ-EFJ joined its Serbian affiliates, the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists’ Association (NUNS) and the Journalists’ Union of Serbia (SINOS), in their call for the local police authorities and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to take necessary measures in the searching operation.
In the recent years, Stefan Cvetković has publicly complained regarding the received threats from criminal and political circles in Serbia. On 19th of May 2018 Stefan Cvetković publicly stated that he had been detained for six hours by the Kosovo authorities on the administrative border crossing for questioning regarding his connections related to investigation on the murder of the politician Oliver Ivanović under the orders of the special prosecutor investigating the same murder.