NUNS and Civic Initiatives awarded Šapić the recognition for being the European record holder in initiating SLAPP lawsuits.

The goal of SLAPP lawsuits is to force media outlets to abandon investigative journalism through complicated and expensive litigation, with excessively high claims for damages.

Representatives of Civic Initiatives (GI) and the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) have awarded, on the occasion of the European Day Against Such Lawsuits, the "Public Award at the European SLAPP Competition" for this year, and the "Disruptor of Transparency Award at the SLAPP Competition for the Western Balkans," held at the end of last year.

"The European audience visited the website of the Coalition Against SLAPP Lawsuits in Europe, in a competition organized with GI, read a selection of cases, including the one involving Šapić, and voted for his. Thus, Šapić gained European notoriety as a person who SLAPPs," said GI representative Uroš Jovanović to the media.

The competition from last year was organized by GI and the European Fund for the Balkans, where Šapić ranked first as the "Disruptor of Transparency."

NUNS General Secretary Tamara Filipović Stevanović reminded that Šapić has sued the Balkan Investigative Network of Serbia (BIRN) twice, demanding six million dinars in damages for each lawsuit, "which is one of the characteristics of SLAPP."

"His behavior towards journalists is questionable, and even during court hearings in these cases, he shouted and spoke untruths. The European Day Against SLAPP Lawsuits is the right opportunity to once again point out that such behavior is unacceptable, especially for someone holding a high public office," said Filipović Stevanović.

Source: Beta