PODGORICA, 27.05.2026 – The Basic Court in Podgorica has dismissed as unfounded a lawsuit filed by Andrej Vučić against Vijesti, its Editor-in-Chief Mihailo Jovović, editor Danilo Mihajlović and journalist Jelena Jovanović. Vučić had sought €5,000 in damages and the removal of an article concerning Sky ECC communications in which he was mentioned. The court found that publishing the information was in the public interest, as it related to communications that are the subject of criminal proceedings and that referred to the brother of the President of Serbia.
According to Vijesti, the judgment states that Vučić is a public figure who actively participates in Serbia’s political life and must therefore tolerate a higher degree of public scrutiny and criticism. The court concluded that Vijesti had a sufficient factual basis for publishing the article, acted in good faith, and did not claim that Vučić had committed any criminal offences, but merely reported on the contents of communications between other individuals.
Although the court noted that Vučić had not been given an opportunity to comment before the article was published, it took into account the journalists’ statements that they had attempted to contact him, as well as the fact that he did not subsequently request a reply or correction in accordance with the Media Law.
The court also rejected the request to remove the article from the Vijesti website, finding that such a decision could have a “chilling effect” on the media by discouraging journalists from reporting on matters of public interest. The judgment states that this would pose a serious threat to democracy and freedom of expression.
Vučić was ordered to reimburse the defendants’ legal costs in the amount of €3,403.