The Basic court in Montenegro has rejected a lawsuit filed by Andrej Vučić, brother of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, against the media outlet Vijesti over its reporting on Sky ECC communications connected to ongoing organized crime investigations. The court found that the journalists acted with due professional care, that the reporting was based on material from criminal proceedings, and that the topic was clearly of public interest due to its links to organized crime, political influence, and public accountability. Importantly, the ruling stressed that public figures must tolerate a higher degree of public scrutiny and warned that removing the article or sanctioning journalists could create a “chilling effect” on media freedom and democratic debate. The case represents an important development in the broader regional conversation around SLAPPs, media pressure, and the protection of investigative journalism in the Western Balkans. Read more here.
Source: Online Vijesti