Serbian Parliament Speaker Accused of Spreading Falsehoods by Research Bureau

The Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI) has accused Ana Brnabić, the Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly, of repeatedly making false statements about the organization and its representative, Zoran Gavrilović. BIRODI asserts that Brnabić has continued to spread untruths regarding their work and Gavrilović's role.

Specifically, BIRODI highlighted Brnabić's claim that Gavrilović leads three organizations, a statement the bureau says lacks substantiation. BIRODI clarified that Gavrilović serves as the legal representative for the Bureau for Social Research and is in his second term as the national representative for the World Association for Public Opinion Research (WAPOR).

BIRODI further stated that Gavrilović presents research findings and analyses in public according to an internal division of labor. The organization noted that while its staff is not large, its work is measurable and recognized, citing examples like local anti-corruption bodies that have adopted BIRODI's models. BIRODI expressed concern that such misinformation originates from the Speaker of Parliament, a public official who should exemplify responsible, fact-based communication, contrasting her with former professor Dragoljub Mićunović.

The statement concluded that the dissemination of inaccurate information by public officials undermines public discourse and erodes trust in institutions. BIRODI stressed that dialogue must be founded on facts and arguments.

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For public dialogue, the fact that falsehoods are coming from the president of the National Assembly, a public official who should be an example of responsible and fact-based public communication, is particularly concerning, as was Professor Dragoljub Mićunović.