The Regional Conference on SLAPPs, held in Belgrade on 28 November, brought together activists, journalists, legal experts, and civil society to address the misuse of SLAPPs in the Western Balkans. During the panel “Protection Mechanisms: Can We Rely on Our Legal Systems for Protection?” BCSDN ED Biljana Spasovska spoke about aligning regional efforts with international standards to strengthen protections for those targeted by SLAPPs. BCSDN members also discussed gaps in state mechanisms and the need for advocacy to improve safeguards. The event was followed by the first-ever Western Balkans SLAPP Competition, modeled after the European SLAPP Contest and organized by Civic Initiatives and the European Fund for the Balkans. Awards were presented in three categories: “Obstructing Transparency” recognized Aleksandar Šapić, Mayor of Belgrade, and Elizabeta Imeraj, former Chief Prosecutor in Tirana, for lawsuits targeting journalists; “Environmental Harm” highlighted Renco SPA Albania and Hydro Logistics, owned by Ivan and Slaven Burzanović, for legal actions against environmental activists; and the “Audience Choice” award went to businessman Zoran Bećirović for using SLAPPs to intimidate critics. The competition highlighted SLAPPs’ threat to democracy and free expression.
Source: Civic Initiatives/ EFB