Zivkovic Samardzic is reporting a successful representation of Dan Graf d.o.o. — the publisher of the Belgrade-based Danas newspaper — and Danas' former Editor in Chief against a civil defamation claim brought by Djordje Vukadinovic, a member of the Serbian parliament and Editor of the Nova Srpska Politicka Misao periodical.
According to Zivkovic Samardzic, the claim related to an article published in Danas' literary supplement in 2010 describing Vukadinovic as a “crypto-fascist analyst.” Both the Higher Court in Belgrade -- the court of first instance -- and the Court of Appeal in Belgrade ruled that the “crypto-fascist analyst” statement should be regarded as value judgment rather than a statement of fact and that affirming Vukadinovic’s claim for damages would amount to a disproportionate interference with the freedom of expression.
Zivkovic Samardzic's representation of Dan Graf and Danas' former editor Panovic was supported through a Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) project securing legal advices and representation in defamation and other media-related cases. The project has been funded by the Civil Rights Defenders and the Media Legal Defense Initiative since 2011. The firm's team successfully was led by Senior Associate Kruna Savovic.
