15. 06. 2003

Vladimir Popovic sues the Humanitarian Law Centre and RTV B92

BELGRADE, 15 June, 2003 -- Vladimir "Beba" Popovic, head of the Serbian Government's Communications Bureau, has filed suit in the First Belgrade Municipal Court against the Humanitarian Law Centre and B92, claiming damages of 2,000,000 dinars (about 30,000 euros). Popovic alleges that, on 24 April, 2003, B92 published what he describes as false information provided by the Humanitarian Law Centre insisitng that he, on the government's behalf, applied daily pressure to media companies during the state of emergency. He also cites a report, again published by B92 from a Humanitarian Law Centre press release, that on 14 April he made a telephone call to the editor of the Beta news agency concerning a letter from a former advisor to the Yugoslav president, after which the information was retracted. Popovic claims that in this way B92 and the Humanitarian Law Centre damaged his reputation and honour and caused him emotional distress.