The Protector of Citizens, Zoran Pasalic, said that journalists in Serbia are still exposed to numerous pressures and various verbal and physical attacks, and announced that he would propose that misdemeanor sanctions be introduced for such acts, which would be executed immediately.

"I will insist on expanding the penal provisions for verbal and physical attacks and pressure on journalists, and I will propose misdemeanor sanctions that will be executed immediately because I noticed that inefficiency in executing punishments is the cause of new attacks, the number of which increased last year", Pasalic said.

On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Pasalic stated that he demanded for those responsible for threats and attacks on journalists to be punished more severely, as well as for the cases of physical attacks on journalists and their property that have not yet been settled to be resolved.

"One of the ways to more effectively protect journalists is the formation of a unique platform for the protection of journalists from attacks and pressures, which was initiated by this institution. The platform will point out mistakes in the way of work and omissions that will give the Protector of Citizens the opportunity to initiate changes to current regulations", said Pasalic.

Pasalic stated that the technical development of the platform was completed and that part of the data was entered into it, and once again called on journalists' associations to submit to the Protector of Citizens systematized data on attacks and pressures on journalists so that the platform would be available to the public as soon as possible.