The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) warns that SLAPP lawsuits are exhausting newsrooms and are part of a wider pressure on critical journalism in Serbia.
- SLAPPs are legal actions, often defamation suits, meant to burden journalists and media with costs and time rather than to win on the merits.
- NUNS says even one or two such lawsuits can force the closure of a small local outlet.
- Plaintiffs include former public officials, judges, police officers, and individuals linked to political structures or organized crime charges.
- Protection for journalists against SLAPPs remains uneven across Europe, according to participants in a multi-country webinar.
- NUNS argues effective protection depends on restoring institutional independence and on courts' ability to recognize abuse of legal proceedings.
The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) says that strategic lawsuits against public participation, known as SLAPPs, are exhausting newsrooms and that even one such case can threaten the survival of a local media outlet. The warning came during a webinar with speakers from Serbia, Malta, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Spain, the Netherlands and Romania, according to NUNS.
SLAPPs are legal actions, often defamation suits, brought to burden journalists and media with costs and time rather than to win a case on its merits.
Uneven protection across Europe
Participants concluded that protection for journalists against SLAPPs remains uneven across Europe. They said that long court proceedings, defense costs and psychological pressure limit reporting on matters of public interest, NUNS reported.
Situation in Serbia
NUNS Secretary-General Tamara Filipović Stevanović said that SLAPPs in Serbia are part of a broader system of pressure on critical journalism. She said they pose a particular threat to small local newsrooms, noting that "one or two lawsuits can mean the closure of a local outlet."
Among the plaintiffs, she listed former public officials, judges, police officers, and individuals linked to political structures or facing organized crime charges.
She added that such lawsuits should not be identified only by the amount of damages sought. In her words, other important indicators include the length of proceedings, the drain on resources and the effect on a newsroom's daily work. Trials lasting several years, she said, force journalists to spend time meant for investigation and reporting on preparing their defense and attending hearings.
Proposed solutions
On possible remedies, Filipović Stevanović assessed that effective protection depends on restoring the independence of institutions and on the ability of the judiciary to recognize the abuse of legal proceedings.
The source report does not mention any specific legislative step or deadline. For related coverage of Serbian public affairs, see the latest news section.
Frequently asked questions
What are SLAPP lawsuits?
SLAPPs are strategic lawsuits against public participation, often defamation suits, filed to burden journalists and media with legal costs and time rather than to win a case on its merits.
Why are SLAPPs especially dangerous for local media in Serbia?
According to NUNS Secretary-General Tamara Filipović Stevanović, small local newsrooms have limited resources, so one or two lawsuits can mean the closure of an outlet.
Who are the plaintiffs in these lawsuits?
NUNS lists former public officials, judges, police officers, and individuals linked to political structures or facing organized crime charges as plaintiffs.
How does NUNS suggest these lawsuits should be assessed?
NUNS says the damages sought are not the only indicator; the length of proceedings, the drain on resources, and the effect on a newsroom's daily work are also important.
Does the report propose specific legal measures or deadlines?
No, the source report does not mention any specific legislative step or deadline. It stresses restoring the independence of institutions and the judiciary's ability to recognize abuse of legal proceedings.
