Miloš Stevanić v. Marko Đusić
Prosecutor
Miloš Stevanić
Official
2025 | Litigation procedure
Marko Đusić, a coach from Čačak, found himself targeted by local SNS officials after he refused to be in front of the premises of SNS at the time of the protest at this location. He was first fired from the Borac hall where he runs a gym, and then the SNS officials accused him through their portals and social networks of not paying the rent. The assistant mayor of Čačak, Miloš Stevanić, eventually filed a lawsuit against Đusić for alleged defamation. At the end of August, the mayor’s assistant asked Đusić to stand in front of the SNS premises when there was a conflict between SNS supporters and demonstrators in Čačak. Đusić said that he refused to participate in the violence.
Basis of submission (according to which article of the law):
Article 200 of the Law on ObligationsDamages/penalty requested:
It is not known.
Defendant
Marko Đusić (Other)
Sector
Outcome - In progress
In progress.
Present characteristics
1. With the lawsuit that initiated the procedure, the plaintiff uses an imbalance of power, such as his financial advantage, political/social influence or authority as a power holder, in which way he puts pressure on the defendant – an actor participating in the public debate.
The plaintiff is an assistant to the mayor of Čačak and a leader of local SNS brench. A seat in the ruling party brings the plaintiff political power and social influence that puts him at a considerable advantage over the defendant.
2. Claims represent abuse of rights, i.e. distributive use of authority by public authorities against actors participating in public debate.
The plaintiff is a holder of public authority, and he uses his position of power to target critics of the local government.
3. The lawsuit was filed against (i) an individual, i.e. a responsible media editor and/or a journalist and not (only) against an organization that organized the disputed activity, i.e. a media publisher and/or a journalist who published the news within a public debate.
A lawsuit was filed against a local coach, who refused to be part of a group of SNS loyalists who would “guard” the party premises and attack citizens.
4. The lawsuit is accompanied by an offensive public relations campaign designed to harass, discredit or intimidate actors participating in the public debate, or is intended to divert attention from the substantive issue at hand.
A smear campaign was conducted against Đusić in local pro-regime newspapers, a campaign designed to discredit the coach by presenting unverified information.
5. The plaintiff, or persons associated with the plaintiff, have participated or are currently participating in intimidating, harassing, or threatening actors involved in the public debate.
The plaintiff, together with local SNS officials, participated in campaigns targeting local media critical of the authorities in that city.
6. The plaintiff, or persons associated with the plaintiff, have previously been or are currently involved in multiple coordinated lawsuits filed against participants in the public debate.
The plaintiff, together with local SNS officials, filed lawsuits against the local portal Ozonpress.
