Serbian Journalists Renew Protests Against 'Sexist' Minister

Serbian journalists on Monday took their protest against the country's Defence Minister to the doors of the government, and, under the slogan "Journalists do not kneel", repeated their demand that Prime Minster Aleksandar Vucic sack Branislav Gasic for making a sexist remark to a reporter.

Cartoonist Marko Somborac brought a large drawing which showed a Lego-style Vucic sacking Gasic, mocking the practice of the country's politicians of presenting their achievements by showing scale models rather than real buildings.

Protesting journalists also urged the Interior Minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic, to cease putting pressure on the media and demanded action from the public prosecutor regarding recent charges made against Stefanovic.

An unnamed interior ministry employee has charged the minister and and the secretary of the Criminal Police, Dijana Hrkalovic, with abuse of office and trading in influence.

The demands were presented by BIRN's Jelena Veljkovic.

Photojournalists also joined Monday's protest, appealing to lawmakers to reject a law drafted by the ruling Progressive Party which defines their work as a "routine mechanical act" and thus not eligible for copyright protection.

Journalists also protested in Novi Sad, Nis, Cacak and Sabac.

Prime Minister Vucic announced Gasic's sacking on December 7 after the minister told reporter Zlatija Labovic from TV B92, who had knelt down to get out of the way of her camera operator during a press event: "I love female journalists who get down on their knees easily."

Gasic has remained in office since then, however.