Even when there’s little chance of winning, the rich and powerful sometimes sue journalists to silence reporting and discourage others from looking into their affairs. These frivolous cases are known as “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” or SLAPPs —and they’ve become one of the biggest threats facing investigative reporters today.
The co-founder of OCCRP, Paul Radu, and our longtime editor Stevan Dojčinović, who also runs a top investigative journalism outlet in Serbia, are just some of the OCCRP journalists who’ve been targeted with SLAPPs. Radu was the target of a years-long lawsuit related to our Azerbaijani Laundromat investigation that was ultimately settled in January 2020. Dojčinović’s Serbian publication, KRIK, is facing multiple SLAPPs that seek almost $1 million in damages — three times more than KRIK’s annual budget.
The two award-winning journalists will discuss their experience with SLAPPs and how they’ve affected their work in a live webinar moderated by Charlie Holt, an attorney who helps lead the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe.
The one-hour virtual event, which will include time for the audience to ask questions, will be held on:
Tuesday, May 10 2022
11:00 EDT // 17:00 CEST
This webinar is one of the many benefits available to members of OCCRP’s Accomplice program. To join, make a donation of any amount. You will receive a registration link to the event once you do.
