Media organizations in Serbia are raising alarms over multiple SLAPPs targeting the Serbian investigative news outlet KRIK. Currently facing 16 lawsuits, KRIK journalists Stevan Dojčinović and Bojana Pavlović are being prosecuted by Court Judge Dušanka Đorđević, for alleged data protection violations after the journalists reported on Judge Đorđević’s assets using publicly available information. The plaintiffs are seeking hefty penalties, including prison sentences and journalism bans. Critics argue these lawsuits are intended to intimidate journalists and stifle press freedom rather than pursue legitimate legal action. The Media Freedom Rapid Response consortium warns that a guilty verdict could have dire implications for independent journalism in Serbia, marking a significant test of the judiciary’s commitment to upholding freedom of expression and transparency in the face of government pressure. They call for stronger anti-SLAPP protections to safeguard investigative reporting. Read more here.
Source: MFRR, International Press Institute, KRIK