The Belgrade Higher Court has taken an unprecedented step in Serbian media history by ordering Informer TV to broadcast a court ruling live on air. This decision marks the first instance in which a Serbian court has mandated a media outlet to read a ruling during a live broadcast. Dragan J. Vučićević, the editor-in-chief of Informer, announced the court’s directive during a live program, expressing his astonishment at the order, which he described as a form of “terror.”

Vučićević emphasized that this type of judicial intervention in media operations is unheard of in Serbia, questioning the democratic nature of such a directive. He stated that failure to comply with the court’s order would result in a daily fine of 100,000 dinars. Vučićević also questioned the motivations behind the prosecutor’s request to have the ruling read on air, suggesting that it was an attempt to suppress one of the few opposition voices in the Serbian media landscape.

The court’s order comes amidst ongoing tensions between Informer TV and the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM). Recently, REM imposed a ban on Informer TV’s program “Prva info,” citing violations related to the content and format of the broadcast. This ban is part of a broader regulatory scrutiny that Informer TV has faced, which Vučićević has repeatedly criticized as politically motivated censorship.

Vučićević has been vocal in his criticism of the current political climate in Serbia, particularly following the recent electoral victory of the Students’ List. He has accused the new administration of engaging in practices that stifle media freedom, contrasting these actions with the previous government under Aleksandar Vučić, which he claims did not impose such restrictions on media outlets.

The court’s decision to enforce the live reading of a ruling on Informer TV raises questions about the implications for media freedom in Serbia. It highlights the ongoing struggle between media outlets and regulatory bodies, as well as the broader political dynamics influencing media operations in the country. While the motivations behind the court’s decision remain unclear, the move sets a significant precedent in Serbian media law, potentially affecting how media outlets operate under judicial directives in the future.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Informer TV and other media entities will navigate the evolving regulatory landscape in Serbia. The court’s ruling and the subsequent reactions from media figures like Vučićević underscore the tensions between media freedom and regulatory oversight in a politically charged environment.