Serbian president says Danas, Nova journalists are liars

He said that media prove themselves to be big and successful by insulting him and called journalists liars. “They are big, not small, liars just like their political representatives,” he added.

Asked to comment Prime Minister Ana Brnabic’s claim that those two dailies (owned by United Group) devoted most of their front page headlines to the president, Vucic said he thought it was a joke. “I thought I was joking when I said they did that to improve circulation… but it’s true,” he said adding that the two dailies published hate insults and lies about him but that he would not be suing them.

Vucic said he wants the offense of insult decriminalized, adding that the proposal is good for journalists. “I am not fully prepared to support that initiative, I am partly prepared to support the idea of journalists being allowed to voice insults and for that offense to be decriminalized. It can’t be decriminalized for me but it can for journalists,” Vucic said.

According to him, all journalists should thank pro-regime Informer tabloid owner Dragan J. Vucicevic for that because he “laid bare the false Serbian elite” by going to jail. Vucicevic refused to pay damages ordered by a court under a private law suit filed by journalist Jugoslav Cosic over insults posted on Twitter. He was released after less than 2 days in jail when the court-ordered damages were paid into the state budget.