Serbia ranks among the top in Europe for the number of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), primarily targeting journalists and civil society organizations, organizers announced at an Anti-SLAPP conference in Belgrade.
SLAPP lawsuits are typically filed by powerful individuals, lobby groups, corporations, or government bodies as a tool of harassment or intimidation, aiming to prevent, restrict, or punish free expression on issues of public interest.
Karolina Hidea, Head of the OSCE Mission in Serbia, said at the conference that SLAPP lawsuits represent a serious threat to media freedom, with their number increasing significantly in recent years.
“Businesspeople and politicians are the main filers of such lawsuits, while journalists, activists, and civil society are the victims. The time and energy journalists lose cannot be compensated,” she stated, adding that dozens of SLAPP suits have been filed in Serbia.
According to conference data, 10 SLAPP cases were recorded in 2023, and 17 cases in 2024 against journalists alone.
Ana Toskić Cvetinović, executive director of the organization “Partners Serbia,” noted that there is no exact data on SLAPP cases against activists and civil society organizations, but legal actions include civil, misdemeanor, and criminal proceedings.
Plamena Halačeva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation in Serbia, emphasized:
“The goal of these lawsuits is to exhaust the resources of those fighting for freedom of expression. Serbia is among the European countries with the highest number of SLAPP lawsuits. Institutions must work to resolve this problem. We need to support marginalized voices, not silence them.”
The issue has also been highlighted earlier this year by Freedom House, which reported that ruling party members have used SLAPP lawsuits to intimidate independent media and journalists.
