Generally quiet when it comes to court proceedings, Andrej Vučić, brother of the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, has filed a lawsuit against the Nova S portal and journalist Jelena Bulajić over a column titled “Andrej’s Billion for Our Triple Jump”, published on January 26, 2024. The lawsuit reportedly seeks non-material damages and personal compensation for “numerous lies and falsehoods” which, according to his claims, damage his reputation, honor, and peace of mind.
At the main hearing, held on September 25, 2024, in the Palace of Justice in Belgrade, Vučić stated that he had never before turned to the courts because of media reporting, but that this particular column “shocked him and made him react.” He claimed that the text contains monstrous falsehoods, including allegations that he actually owns a billion euros, and that he is involved in drug trafficking and organized crime — which he described as crossing the line from entertainment to becoming a “politically motivated and extremely dangerous lie.”
When asked by the defense, Vučić confirmed that he did not contact the journalists to request a correction before filing the lawsuit. He added that the column caused him physical issues, such as tachycardia, that his doctor prescribed him medication for anxiety and his heart, and that he had no direct contact with the journalists until they appeared in court. He also stated that he was extremely distressed by the tone of the text and that, according to him, the piece “affected the public’s perception of his family.”
The defense attorney, Katarina Radović, pointed out procedural shortcomings: the judge allowed only two out of eight questions that the defense intended to ask Vučić. She requested that the court recognize the text as an opinion piece — a column — representing the author’s personal view, not a statement of fact, but subjective journalistic commentary.
The case is now in the main hearing stage. The key legal and public debate will revolve around whether statements made in columns can be classified as defamation and how far the media can go in criticizing public figures, especially when explicit accusations are made without clear evidence.
This case is one of the few direct examples of a president’s family member openly suing a media outlet over an opinion column. All the more, it seems that the lawsuit does not concern factual reporting but journalistic discourse — making it a potential example of a SLAPP lawsuit, an attempt to intimidate journalists and influence editorial freedom.
This text was prepared within the framework of the Western Balkans Civil Society Development Hub project, funded by Sida and implemented by BCSDN.
The content of this text, information, and views presented do not represent the official position and opinion of Sida and BCSDN. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in this document lies entirely with the author(s).
