UNS: Rulings against media for relaying official statements are a dangerous practice

The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) has voiced strong concern over recent court decisions that penalize media outlets for reporting statements made by public officials. The association views these rulings as a dangerous precedent that could significantly undermine freedom of information in the country.

UNS specifically highlighted a case where the 021 portal and Radio-Television of Serbia (RTS) were ordered by the Higher Court in Belgrade to pay damages. This stemmed from their reporting of a statement by National Assembly President Ana Brnabić, who had called Nemanja Šarović, former deputy leader of the Serbian Radical Party, an "Đilas's mercenary." Šarović had sued both media outlets for publishing this statement.

Adding to UNS's concern, the court found RTS liable for damages to Šarović's honor and reputation, while a separate case brought by Šarović against Brnabić for the same statement was dismissed by the First Basic Court. UNS finds it particularly troubling that media are held responsible for relaying statements from high-ranking officials, while the officials themselves are not held accountable for the content of those statements.

The association warns that such judicial practices could lead to serious consequences for freedom of expression. By imposing responsibility on media for publishing official remarks, instead of on the officials making them, courts risk creating an environment where media outlets become hesitant to report crucial information from public figures. This, in turn, directly jeopardizes both journalistic freedom and the public's right to be informed about matters of public interest, a role underscored by the European Court of Human Rights' stance that media should not be punished for reporting on issues of public significance.

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