The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime condemns the blatant campaign against the Serbian investigative journalism organisation Crime and Corruption Reporting Network – KRIK.

The fight against organised crime should not be used as an excuse to reduce media freedom or to smear or intimidate journalists who ask questions that explore possible links between organised crime, corruption and politics.

Civil society and the media can be key actors in exposing organized crime and strengthening resilience to it. In following through on their commitment to fight organized crime, we encourage the Serbian government and criminal justice system to work with civil society and investigative journalists, not against them. The force of the law should be used to crack down on criminals, not journalists.