November 21, 2024

21.11.2024 – Journalist Files Lawsuit Against Minister for Defamation

Journalist Srđan Škoro has filed a lawsuit against the one Serbian Minister, following alleged accusations that Škoro incited violence against President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić’s son, Danilo Vučić. The Ministry’s official website published these claims on 8 July 2024.

According to Škoro’s lawyer, Ivan Ninić, the government’s dissemination of unproven accusations gravely damaged Škoro’s reputation. The legal complaint highlights that these false claims reached a vast audience both domestically and internationally, further impacting Škoro’s public image.

Ninić emphasizes that Škoro, as a private citizen, lacks the media influence or resources to effectively respond to a government official’s accusations. The lawsuit argues that this persons remarks, amplified by the Ministry’s widespread distribution, are a clear violation of Škoro’s rights. Consequently, Škoro is demanding 250,000 RSD (2,136.96 EUR) in compensation for the harm caused to his reputation and dignity.

Srđan Škoro, born on 17 May 1963 in Belgrade, Serbia, a historian and seasoned journalist. He started his journalism career in 1978 and worked for various Serbian print media, such as Duga, Politika Ekspres, and NIN (https://www.nin.rs/). He held editorial roles at Večernje Novosti (https://www.novosti.rs/c) and reported for Radio Politika. In 2014, he faced a dismissal from Večernje Novosti after criticizing the new Serbian government, leading to a legal battle in which courts ruled in his favor. He later engaged in political activism.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) will continue to monitor this case closely.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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