Marko VIDOJKOVIĆ

Death threats against writer and journalist Marko Vidojković persisted in 2024. Vidojković notably spoke in March 2024 about his plight and the broader situation in Serbia at an online panel event marking the launch of PEN International’s 2023/2024 Case List of persecuted writers.  

An outspoken writer and journalist, Vidojković is known for his critical stance towards the Serbian authorities. Death threats intensified after the publication of his best-selling novel Djubre (Trash), in September 2020, prompting him and his family to relocate out of concern for their safety. Since 2021, Vidojković has reported several instances of being publicly smeared (see Case List 2023/2024 and Case List 2022). 

In September 2024, a court in Belgrade found Vidojković guilty of causing ‘mental pain’ to Aleksandar Šapić, the mayor of Belgrade, and ordered him to pay RSD70,000 (approximately USD620) in a case that bore the hallmarks of a SLAPP. Harassment of Vidojković by government officials and pro-government supporters continued as of 31 December 2024.  

Marko Vidojković, born on 1 October 1975, is a writer, journalist, and TV host from Serbia, who regularly comments on political and societal issues, including in his podcast Dobar, Los, Zao (The Good, the Bad and the Evil). His dystopian novel Djubre (Trash, Laguna 2020) focuses on corruption and attracted the ire of pro-government media and members of the public. His latest book Povrede na radu (Work injuries), a collection of columns and satirical texts spanning from 2018 to 2023, was published in December 2024.