Austrian MEP wins defamation case against Serbian newspaper

A court in Vienna has ruled that the Serbian newspaper “Novosti” was guilty in a lawsuit filed by Austrian MEP Andreas Schieder, finding that false and unfounded claims about him had been published, Beta reported from his office.

Schieder, who leads the delegation of the Social Democratic Party of Austria in the European Parliament, took part in December 2023 in an EP observation mission for elections in Serbia, after which a report was presented listing numerous irregularities, CE Report quotes FENA.

The court stated in its ruling that Schieder was the target of defamatory articles precisely because of his role in the observation mission, and that the published claims were false and had no factual basis.

The court ordered “Novosti” to pay legal costs of €10,000, publish a correction, and refrain from similar claims in the future.

Schieder described the ruling as an “important symbol of resistance” and expressed hope it would not be the last decision, as he said, clearly setting limits on the actions of the Serbian regime.

“No one has to yield to pressure (from Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić) or his influence over Serbian media. It is worth standing up to it, and it is possible to succeed in this fight,” Schieder said.

Foto/ Beta