Translation provided by KoSSev
Lawyer Ivan Ninić, who has defended clients in several cases brought by the regime against its critics and is known for his outspoken views on top officials, has become the target of a video accusing him of being an American spy working for Albanians from Kosovo. Professional media outlets were also targeted, prompting representatives of both professions to react, demanding that the authors be identified—especially given that Serbia has a “tradition” of unpunished murders of lawyers and journalists, some of which began with similar smear campaigns, N1 reports.
In the video, a virtual double of Ninić, created with artificial intelligence, kisses the Albanian flag, while a digitally altered voice accuses him of treason:
“His task is simple – to spit on everything Serbian and to glorify Kurti’s regime on the shows where he appears. Is there enough reason to arrest this traitor?”
“Of course there is not,” Ninić responded, expressing hope the authorities, to whom he has reported everything, will launch an investigation and identify the authors by examining the claims in the video.
For now, the perpetrator is listed as “unknown,” but Ninić is convinced that the ruling regime is behind it, and that it is the same mastermind who orchestrated a similar smear campaign against SDP leader Oliver Ivanović shortly before his murder.
“The fact is it’s the same kitchen, the same handwriting, the same scriptwriter and director. Oliver Ivanović himself warned in time what was being prepared for him, and by whom. And everything he feared might happen eventually did happen,” says lawyer Ivan Ninić.
Ninić’s colleagues are convinced that he has been marked as a target because of his work against corruption, crime, and abuses of power.
They warn: “This must not be taken lightly.”
“When we recall the case of our colleague Miša Ognjanović, when we recall Vladimir Cvijan, what is now being staged against Ivan Ninić can only cause concern,” says lawyer Jovan Rajić.
Alongside Ninić, the same video also targets United Media television channels N1 and Nova S:
“He is increasingly present on CNN branches N1 and Nova S. Because logically, people with any authority and integrity will not demean themselves by appearing on media whose only goal is the destabilization of Serbia.”
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) also reacted, calling the video an unacceptable incitement to lynch those defending citizens’ rights, who are subjected to violence and arbitrary arrests during protests.
“And defenders include lawyers, some of whom have made enormous sacrifices over the past ten months, as well as journalists who report on all of this. We all have to respond every single day, to every threat, and protect everyone—whether they belong to our profession or another,” explains Veran Matić of ANEM.
N1’s interlocutors believe the authorities could easily determine who is behind the social media profiles that launched the campaign—if they wanted to.
So far, they have mostly failed to react, except when threats and insults were directed at state officials. In those cases, it took them only hours.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
