Slapp Back Fund

How Was the Slapp Back Fund Established?

The Slapp Back Fund was spontaneously established in March 2024. It originated from a solidarity fundraising campaign to pay the unfair (and particularly high) fine imposed on Aida Ćorović due to her activist actions—symbolically throwing an egg at a portrait of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić at the corner of Njegoševa and Alekse Nenadovića streets in Belgrade.

During the campaign “For Aida – On the Front Line,” several times more funds were raised than needed to pay the fine. A total of 702,348.98 dinars was collected in record time, with donations from 183 individuals. Contributions came from Serbia, the region, and around the world.

Thanks to this broad solidarity support, we decided to use the remaining money to establish a fund for other cases of SLAPP lawsuits. Similar legal processes, which serve to pressure those working for the public interest, are already underway. Instead of these lawsuits being prevented and eradicated in time, their number is increasing.

What Does the Slapp Back Fund Offer?

Consultative support from our legal team.

Provision of lawyers for representation in court and other proceedings.

Participation in financial obligations arising from completed proceedings (court costs, awarded compensations, fines, etc.).

Who Is the Slapp Back Fund For?

If you are subjected to SLAPP lawsuits due to your activist work, or you know activists facing such lawsuits, feel free to write to us and share that the Slapp Back Fund is open.

If you want to help those subjected to SLAPP lawsuits, individual donations can be made to the following account numbers.

RSD PAYMENTS:

ACC. NO. 170-0030039599021-59

KROKODIL ASSOCIATION, KARAĐORĐEVA 43, 11000 BELGRADE

EUR PAYMENTS:

IBAN: RS35170003003959900122

SWIFT: BACXRSBG

KROKODIL ASSOCIATION, KARAĐORĐEVA 43/2, 11000 BELGRADE, UNICREDIT BANK SERBIA JSC

USD PAYMENTS:

IBAN: RS35170003003959900995

SWIFT: BACXRSBG

KROKODIL ASSOCIATION, KARAĐORĐEVA 43/2, 11000 BELGRADE, UNICREDIT BANK SERBIA JSC

PAYPAL: office@ana-pejovic

Note: SLAPP lawsuits broadly represent a specific form of state pressure aimed at suppressing civic participation by initiating civil, misdemeanor, pre-criminal, criminal, and administrative proceedings against individuals, groups, and organizations. Therefore, each inquiry will first be analyzed by our legal team. You will then receive a response on whether the case fits the broad definition of a SLAPP lawsuit or not. If the answer is positive, you will be able to receive support from the Slapp Back Fund.

Contact:

You can write to us at fund@krokodil.rs. We will strive to respond as quickly as possible.

SIDEBAR:

A SLAPP lawsuit (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) is an acronym that can roughly be translated as a “strategic lawsuit against public participation.” SLAPP lawsuits were first identified in the context of the United States during the 1980s. In the meantime, this practice has spread globally, and in recent years, local activists are increasingly facing them. In short, these are lawsuits filed to intimidate, burden, punish, or harass the defendant for public speech and actions on matters of public interest. The defendant’s work will be hindered, their time taken, and confidence shaken. The legal process, which usually lasts several years and entails court fees and attorney costs, will likely completely financially exhaust the defendant. Thus, the goal of these lawsuits is not to uncover the truth but to limit and silence public criticism that, for whatever reason, does not suit the plaintiffs, in this case, the state.

We extend our gratitude to the donors of Front Line Defenders.