SLAPP BACK Fund for Dmitrii Lagovskii

21 Jul SLAPP BACK Fund for Dmitrii Lagovskii

Dear friends,

SLAPP BACK Fund is reaching out to ask for your support in raising funds to provide legal assistance to Dmitrii Lagovskii — a Russian citizen of Ukrainian descent who, together with his family, found refuge in Serbia, hoping to build a new and peaceful life here.

Since August 2023, Dmitri has been living in Serbia with his wife and their two young children. His kids attend the local school, speak Serbian, and already feel that Serbia is their home. Dmitri is employed, pays taxes, respects the law, and works hard to secure a safe future for his family.

But all of this is now under threat. On April 8, 2025, Dmitri was arrested at Russia’s request. The official charges relate to his past professional work — he simply served as an independent legal consultant for a routine civil contract between two private companies. But the real reason for his persecution is different: Dmitry is a reserve officer, a senior communications lieutenant. His relatives in Russia have been explicitly told that the authorities want him back so they can send him to the front lines of the Russian-Ukrainian war, where there is now a desperate shortage of specialists with his military background.

This is not just a legal battle — this is a human tragedy that could become even more devastating. If Dmitri is extradited to Russia, his military experience and rank may be used to force him into a war against Ukraine — the country where he was born and spent his childhood. For him, this would mean betraying himself and everything he believes in.

At this moment, evidence is being collected and a defense strategy is being prepared. A decision from the Higher Court in Belgrade is expected soon, after which the case will proceed to the Court of Appeal. Every single day matters.

To give Dmitri a real chance to defend his freedom and safety, continuous legal support is needed — and this requires considerable resources. His family simply cannot shoulder this burden alone.

That is why we are asking for the simplest and at the same time most precious form of help — your solidarity. Even a small contribution can save a person from forced deportation and war. Every donation is more than money — it is a chance to protect a family, to uphold human dignity, and to defend the right to live without fear.

If you can help, please send your donation to one of the accounts below, making sure to indicate “For Dmitri”:

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

In EUR:
IBAN: RS35170003003959900122
SWIFT: BACXRSBG

In USD:
IBAN: RS35170003003959900995
SWIFT: BACXRSBG

PayPal:
office@krokodil.rs

Let us show together that there are things stronger than political pressure and fear. That there are people ready to stand by each other when it matters most.

From people — to people! ✊