The Basic Court of Podgorica has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by Andrej Vučić, the brother of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, against the prominent Montenegrin daily newspaper Vijesti, its editor-in-chief, a crime section editor, and a reporter.
The court ruled that publishing leaked transcripts from the encrypted “Sky ECC” application—in which the Serbian president’s brother is mentioned—was strictly a matter of public interest, Croatian daily Jutarnji List reports.
In its decision, the court concluded that Andrej Vučić is a public figure and an active participant in the political life of Serbia. Consequently, the court noted, he must tolerate a higher degree of public scrutiny and criticism than private individuals.
The Lawsuit and Financial Penalties
Through the lawsuit, Vučić had sought €5,000 in damages for alleged harm to his honor, reputation, and dignity. He also demanded the permanent deletion of the article titled “Zvonko and Andrej celebrated the billion…”, which was published on January 23, 2024, alongside a public retraction paid for by the editor-in-chief.
The court rejected all of Vučić’s demands. Instead, the judge ordered the plaintiff to pay just over €3,400 to the defendants to cover their legal and procedural expenses.
The disputed Vijesti article cited decrypted communications intercepted from the Sky ECC network between fugitive Montenegrin police officer Ljubo Milović and Miloš Božović from Nikšić. The encrypted chats discussed the security services of Montenegro and Serbia, organized crime clans, President Aleksandar Vučić, his brother Andrej, and Zvonko Veselinović, a controversial Serb businessman from northern Kosovo.
Preventing a “Chilling Effect” on Free Speech
The court emphasized that ordering the removal of the journalistic piece would produce a severe “chilling effect”—intimidating the press and creating an environment where journalists and editors would avoid reporting on sensitive topics out of fear of legal retaliation.
The judge warned that such a practice would pose a “serious problem for democracy and freedom of expression,” effectively discouraging the media and civil society from investigating matters of profound public interest.
The decrypted Sky ECC transcripts suggest that within regional criminal networks, Andrej Vučić and Zvonko Veselinović were perceived as pivotal figures wielding massive political and illicit power in Serbia. The intercepted messages referenced alleged connections to aggressive soccer hooligan groups, state security services, the notorious criminal syndicate led by Veljko Belivuk, and various business operations in northern Kosovo—including a specific claim that the figures had “celebrated making their first billion euros.”
