KRIK journalist Sofija Bogosavljev has been acquitted of criminal prosecution in the lawsuit filed by the company "Starting" (VIDEO).

Author: Veran Matić

At the hearing held in September, the attempt at mediation was unsuccessful as Sofija Bogosavljev did not agree to the request for the KRIK editorial team to issue a public apology regarding the investigative story as a condition for the company to withdraw its lawsuit. At the same hearing, the accused and KRIK's attorney, Kruna Savović, proposed the presentation of compelling evidence to support the facts and the truthfulness of the article, as well as the due journalistic diligence that was honored in this case.

The representatives and officials of the company "Starting" did not attend today's trial. Judge Sonja Kusturić informed those present that this company had withdrawn its lawsuit, and that the conditions had been met to issue a ruling rejecting the charges and acquitting Sofija Bogosavljev of criminal prosecution.

The company sued the KRIK journalist because, according to them, she "tendently presented the operations of 'Starting', making false claims about unsecured construction sites and injured workers, which circumstances, according to the intent of the accused, were supposed to link 'Starting' to the tragic event of the roof collapse at the Novi Sad Railway Station that resulted in 15 fatalities..."

However, all the information published by KRIK comes from official documents obtained through official channels from state institutions.

"Today I was acquitted of the criminal charges filed against me by STARTING, and I must honestly say that I am very glad about it, and that I did not have to engage in that entire process, as they withdrew the lawsuit and abandoned it almost at the very beginning. However, although it was brief, I must emphasize that it is very stressful for all journalists to go through this, especially when there are criminal charges, when we are in the position of the accused."

The lawsuit itself was from the very beginning meaningless and based on false information, as they never denied that I wrote any lies, but tried to impose that I wrote about them to damage their reputation, which is absurd, so I think they realized that it might not be worth it for them to enter that process because it would not be possible for me to be convicted,” said journalist Sofija Bogosavljev after the acquittal.

"Starting" has raised six other different lawsuits.

The KRIK editorial team faces an additional 16 lawsuits defined as SLAPP lawsuits, which have the sole purpose of obstructing, intimidating, and pressuring journalists and editorial teams to cease their engagement with issues of public importance.