APPEAL FOR HELP FOR PANPRESS FROM PANČEVO, WHICH FACES CLOSURE DUE TO SLAPP LAWSUIT – URGENT REACTION NEEDED FROM CITIZENS!

28 Oct APPEAL FOR HELP FOR PANPRESS FROM PANČEVO, WHICH FACES CLOSURE DUE TO SLAPP LAWSUIT – URGENT REACTION NEEDED FROM CITIZENS!

An independent media outlet from Pančevo, PANpress, and editor Ivana Predić have received a verdict in a lawsuit filed by Aleksandar Čupić, a media worker from Vršac, for defamation of reputation and emotional distress, with an enormous compensation claim of as much as 209,900 dinars!

This independent editorial office from Pančevo has been given a deadline of 15 days to pay the compensation and court expenses.

We call on all solidary citizens to respond to this action in large numbers and to RAISE FUNDS BY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2025, to HELP PANPRESS and its editor IVANA PREDIĆ COVER COURT EXPENSES.

Specifically, Aleksandar Čupić initiated a lawsuit against the mentioned media in September 2021 for defamation and emotional distress, due to a report on one of the court hearings in a case against Čupić. The report was written by editor Ivana Predić for the website Cenzolovka, and the text was originally published there. The report was also covered by local media, including PANPress, which, along with Cenzolovka, was sued as well.

The argument that the public has the right to know and be informed about Čupić’s frequent absences from court hearings (seven times across two cases) was not accepted by the judge of the Higher Court, which led to a verdict that Pero Center and Ivana Predić were to pay 70,000 dinars jointly as compensation for non-material damages and emotional suffering. After an appeal, the Court of Appeals initially confirmed the verdict but later increased the amount to 139,900 dinars, making the total compensation and court costs amount to 209,900 dinars.

Why is it important for us all to get involved and help?

Because this is yet another example of how public interest and the voice of independent local media are suffocated through exhausting court proceedings and enormous damages claims.

Because we mustn’t allow yet another blow to independent media, whose main goal is to ensure that each of us can access information of public importance, to result in a journalist ending up in prison.

Because journalists must have their freedom protected.

We can all help together through donations in the following ways:

In RSD:
Account number: 170-0030039599021-59
Udruženje KROKODIL, Karađorđeva 43, Belgrade

In EUR:
IBAN: RS35170003003959900122
SWIFT: BACXRSBG

In USD:
IBAN: RS35170003003959900995
SWIFT: BACXRSBG