Controversial Kosovo Serb Powerbroker’s Libel Case Dismissed

Belgrade Higher Court has dismissed a defamation case launched by controversial Kosovo Serb businessman and politician Milan Radoicic against rival Kosovo Serb politician Rada Trajkovic, who accused him of being implicated in the shooting of Oliver Ivanovic in 2018.

Radoicic, the vice-president of the main Belgrade-backed Kosovo Serb political party, Srpska Lista, is a businessman who is widely seen as the real power-holder in Serb-majority northern Kosovo.

Trajkovic's legal representative, Vladimir Gajic, said that in its decision, which was made on June 16 but only became public on Wednesday, the court had prioritised the right to freedom of speech.

"In this case, the court decided that the freedom of expression and freedom of speech of Rada Trajkovic is more important than his [Radojicic's] reputation, given that he is a public figure, engaged in politics and that, for the reasons we stated in the case, she had reason to believe that he was what she had publicly accused him of being," Gajic told BIRN.

This was a first-instance verdict and Radojicic has right to appeal.

Radojicic sued Trajkovic in August 2019, asking for five million dinars (some 42,000 euros) in compensation for the alleged damage to his honour and reputation because she publicly connected him to the murder of Ivanovic in January 2018.

The indictment for the murder of Ivanovic, filed in December 2019, said that Radoicic and another Kosovo Serb, Zvonko Veselinovic, were leaders of a criminal group responsible for the killing, and accused several policemen of aiding the crime. They have denied involvement.

In March this year, Pristina Basic Court withdrew a warrant for the arrest of Radoicic. In July, Srpska Lista members unanimously re-elected...