Janković

BELGRADE - Serbian ombudsman Sasa Jankovic on Monday congratulated media and media professionals on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, encouraging them to oppose any form of pressure more strongly and in a more organised manner.

He urged authorities and everyone else to enable media and journalists to work freely and, in particular, refrain from any attacks against them.

Serbia's Prime Minister has belatedly axed his controversial defence minister, Branislav Gasic, who has been in the middle of controversy since early December when he told reporter Zlatija Labovic from TV B92, who had knelt down to get out of the way of her cameraman at a press event: "I love female journalists who get down on their knees easily."

The medical data of a former director of the tabloid Kurir was issued without authorization, Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic has said.

For this reason, minor charges will be filed against the director of the psychiatric hospital Dr. Laza Lazarevic in Belgrade, and against "a minister," Jankovic announced on Tuesday.

Serbian leaders on Tuesday did not respond to calls to dismiss Bratislav Gasic, Defence Minister, and Petar Cvetkovic, head of the Military Security Agency, VBA, as Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic advised.

CoE's commissioner for human rights has expressed his concern over verbal attacks of some politicians and media in Serbia against Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic.

The Serbian parliament elected on Wednesday Brankica Jankovic as Commissioner for Protection of Equality.

The Serbian parliament elected on Wednesday Brankica Jankovic as Commissioner for Protection of Equality.

Minister says "it seems" ombudsman's friend was killed

BELGRADE -- Serbian Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic has told reporters that he "has no new information about the death of Predrag Gojkovic."

He added that his previous statement that Gojkovic was killed was based on what has been presented publicly.

Serbian police on Wednesday published documents about the suicide of a friend of Sasa Jankovic, Serbian ombudsman, which occurred in Jankovic's own apartment and with Jankovic's gun in 1993.

The documents show traces of gunpowder were found on Jankovic hands.

The ballistics expert's report noted that there is no way to determine how the gunpowder ended up on Jankovic's hands.

Jankovic said on Monday that recent media slurs against his character were an example of "the tabloidisation of state and society that I have been warning about for years".

Human rights situation "unsatisfactory" - ombudsman

BELGRADE -- Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic has said that the human rights situation in Serbia, despite certain progress, was unsatisfactory.

Jankovic made the assessment in his 2014 report submitted to members of the Serbian national assembly.