Marija Vasić, a prominent high school professor in Novi Sad, took legal action today after being labeled “anti-Serbian” by SNS leader Miloš Vučević. The political targeting triggered an avalanche of tabloid defamation and threatening graffiti outside her home.
Marija Vasić, a respected sociology professor at the prestigious “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj” Gymnasium, has formally filed a criminal complaint against Miloš Vučević, the leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Speaking to reporters outside the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad on Wednesday, Vasić stated that the complaint directly targets Vučević for endangering her personal safety, inciting panic, disrupting public order, and propagating state-sponsored targeting.
Vasić clarified that she bypassed a civil defamation lawsuit because, as she put it, “he is incapable of insulting my reputation or honor.” Instead, she chose to pursue criminal charges to protect her family from real-world violence.
The Anatomy of a State-Backed Harassment Campaign
The legal showdown stems from an academic comment Vasić made during a recent appearance on the political talk show Utisak Nedelje (Impression of the Week).
Commenting on the large crowds of Orthodox believers queuing outside the Church of Saint Sava to kiss a relic known as the Holy Belt of the Virgin Mary, Vasić noted from a sociological perspective that “attributing supernatural properties to inanimate objects and believing in their supernatural powers is a fundamental form of fetishization.”
The academic observation was quickly weaponized by the ruling party leadership:
- The Video Directive: On Monday, SNS leader Miloš Vučević published a targeted video across his official social media channels, explicitly accusing Vasić of insulting all Orthodox believers. He claimed she harbors deep hatred for “the Cyrillic script, the army, the Patriarch, and the President,” while accusing her of “indoctrinating” her students.
- Tabloid Amplification: Within hours of Vučević’s post, over 50 coordinated articles appeared across pro-regime tabloids, effectively dehumanizing the professor by publishing her photographs, professional credentials, and personal information.
- Intimidating Graffiti: Following the media blitz, masked individuals in hoodies were caught on camera overnight painting six threatening graffiti tags on the buildings directly surrounding Vasić’s apartment. The graffiti mockingly read: “Vasićka, what is Čanak’s fetish?” (referencing regional opposition politician Nenad Čanak).
‘Nobody on the Other Side of Power is Safe’
Vasić confirmed that local citizens and neighbors gathered on Tuesday to physically wash away the hate speech from the neighborhood walls, but noted that the psychological damage and security threats remain high.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Professor Vasić's Legal Filings │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Charge 1: Endangering Personal and Family Safety │
│ Directly linking ruling party rhetoric to threats. │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Charge 2: Inciting Public Panic & Disorder │
│ Weaponizing social media to trigger aggressive mobs. │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Charge 3: Illicit Targeting and Doxxing │
│ Coordinating state media to leak personal details. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The professor emphasized that this marks the second time her residential area has been targeted due to her public commentary, reflecting a broader, more dangerous trend of domestic political repression in Serbia.
“I am doing this because I need to protect my safety and the safety of my family, which includes minors,” Vasić declared outside the courthouse. “If anything happens to my family or to me, everyone now knows exactly who is responsible.”
“People in this country are being run over, beaten, assaulted, and locked up,” Vasić concluded. “When you are targeted and satanized by a ruling regime that wields immense media power and absolute institutional influence, your safety is completely compromised. Today, nobody who stands on the opposite side of this government is truly safe.”
The Novi Sad Prosecutor’s Office has received the filing, but has not yet commented on whether it will open a formal investigation into the ruling party leader.
