Published: 21. March 2026. march 2026.
Nacionalna radna grupa za borbu protiv SLAPP-a izražava ozbiljnu zabrinutost povodom privatne krivične tužbe koju je kompanija „Millennium Team“ podnela protiv novinarke N1 Maje Nikolić, tražeći da bude osuđena na kaznu zatvora do godinu dana zbog, kako navode u tužbi, krivičnog dela narušavanje poslovnog ugleda i kreditne sposobnosti u vezi sa tekstom koji se bavi kupovinom hotela „Jugoslavija“ i državnim subvencijama.
The National Anti-SLAPP Working Group expresses serious concern regarding the private criminal lawsuit filed by the company “Millennium Team” against N1 journalist Maja Nikolić, seeking a prison sentence of up to one year for, as they state in the lawsuit, the criminal offense of damaging business reputation and creditworthiness in connection with an article dealing with the purchase of the “Jugoslavija” hotel and state subsidies. The use of criminal legal mechanisms against journalists for published information and value judgments regarding the spending of public funds represents a serious form of legal pressure and can have a strong deterrent effect on media outlets and journalists reporting on issues of public importance.
Additionally, we point out that the company did not request the publication of a denial before initiating the proceedings, which further indicates that the goal of the lawsuit is not to exercise the right to correction or response, but to exhaust and intimidate journalists.
This case cannot be viewed in isolation. The company in question has previously been linked to legal proceedings against media outlets and journalists, which are often publicly characterized as SLAPP-like lawsuits (strategic lawsuits against public participation), such as lawsuits with high damages claims against local media outlets in southern Serbia, as well as proceedings against other journalists and editors for reporting on its operations. Such practices indicate a pattern of strategic use of the judiciary to burden, intimidate, and exhaust the media and journalists.
The National Anti-SLAPP Task Force reminds that, among other things, criminal charges, threats of imprisonment, bans on journalistic work, and high damages claims for reporting on matters of public interest constitute actions with SLAPP characteristics aimed at discouraging critical reporting and narrowing the space for public debate.
We point out that this is another in a series of lawsuits with SLAPP characteristics, which contribute to narrowing the space for free and independent information to the public. We call on judicial institutions to examine the circumstances of this case with particular attention and to take into account the standards of protection of freedom of expression and the public’s right to be informed in their actions. We also call on the competent institutions to continue working on establishing effective mechanisms for recognizing and preventing SLAPP lawsuits in Serbia.
The protection of journalists who report on matters of public interest is not only a matter of protecting the profession, but also of protecting the democratic order and the right of citizens to know how public resources are being managed.
The undersigned organizations will provide all necessary support to journalist Maja Nikolić and will monitor this case.
The National Anti-SLAPP Task Force, consisting of:
Beogradski centar za ljudska prava (BCLJP)
Građanske inicijative
Komitet pravnika za ljudska prava (YUCOM)
KRIK
Nezavisno društvo novinara Vojvodine (NDNV)
Nezavisno udruženje novinara Srbije (NUNS)
Partneri Srbija
Slavko Ćuruvija fondacija
Udruženje KROKODIL