Serbia: RSF appalled by radio journalist’s murder

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns local radio journalist Luka Popov’s murder yesterday in northern Serbia and calls on the authorities to do everything possible to identify the person or persons responsible and bring them to justice.

The body of Popov, who worked for two local radio stations in the northern towns Čoka and Novi Knezevac, was found today in his home in the nearby village of Srpski Krstur. Witnesses said he appeared to have been tortured.

Although the police have yet to confirm the victim’s identity, the two main Serbian journalists’ organizations said it was Popov and that he had sustained significant visible injuries. The police have begun an investigation and are to conduct an autopsy tomorrow.

“We condemn this barbaric murder and urge the authorities to conduct an independent, impartial and thorough investigation so that it does not go unpunished,” said Pauline Adès-Mével, the head of RSF’s Europe-Balkans desk.

Serbia is ranked 59th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2016 World Press Freedom Index.