Vienna, 23 February 2012-The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), condemns the alleged assault against a Studio B TV crew.

On 22 February 2212, reporters from Belgrade-based Studio B were filming in the downtown area of the Serbian capital when a person approached and threatened them, and subsequently hit the camera assistant. The police detained him.

SEEMO recalls that in the cases of previous assaults against journalists, alleged perpetrators were briefly detained, before being released. Any subsequent sentences were inordinately light. SEEMO joins the Association of Serbian Journalists (UNS) in demanding more significant sanctions in such cases.

“I applaud any prompt police action, but I also call on the authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists,” said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. “Sentences for this type of offense are often very light, and courts take a long time to deliberate and implement them.”