**Updates IFEX alerts of 8 December 1999** (CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ news alert: Decision expected later today in Serbian media trial New York, December 8, 1999 — Editors from the Belgrade daily newspapers Blic and Danas and Belgrade’s Studio-B television station appeared in a Belgrade criminal court today to answer defamation charges […]
**Updates IFEX alerts of 8 December 1999**
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ news alert:
Decision expected later today in Serbian media trial
New York, December 8, 1999 — Editors from the Belgrade daily newspapers Blic and Danas and Belgrade’s Studio-B television station appeared in a Belgrade criminal court today to answer defamation charges brought against the media outlets under Serbia’s Information Law. A ruling is expected later this evening, but editors expect the court to impose the maximum fine of 600,000 dinars (about $200,000) on each media organization. Editors from Blic say the fine would force the newspaper out of business.
The charges stem from a December 4 Blic story that reported statements made by Vuk Draskovic, leader of the opposition Serbian Renewal Movement, implicating the Serbian Secret Service in a recent assassination attempt against him. On October 3, a truck swerved into Draskovic’s car, injuring him and killing his brother-in-law and three others.
Blic is the largest-circulation newspaper in Serbia. The television station Studio B is controlled by Draskovic, and the opposition daily Danas is a highly influential paper circulated among Belgrade intellectuals. All three outlets face charges for carrying Draskovic’s statement.
The suit was brought by two senior Serbian government officials: Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian information minister, and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Vojislav Seselj, both of the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party. Both claim to have been defamed in local coverage of the assassination attempt against Draskovic. Under Serbia’s Information Law, fines must be paid within 24 hours or the government can begin seizing assets.
Blic editor Veselin Simonovic appeared in court along with the newspaper’s lawyers on December 8, but was given little chance of winning. The paper does not have enough money to pay the fine and will be forced to close down.
“There is nothing legal about the Serbian Information Law,” noted CPJ’s Executive Director Ann K. Cooper. “Since anyone can sue anybody for any amount at any time, it is being used like a truncheon to club the independent press into submission.”
