Statement: Municipality of Žitište President Ivana Martinović Found to Have Discriminated Against Activist on the Grounds of Sexual Orientation

The Higher Court in Zrenjanin has issued a judgment finding that Ivana Martinović, President of the Municipality of Žitište, discriminated against activist Danijel Živanov from Žitište on the grounds of his sexual orientation. The court ordered her to cease the discriminatory conduct and to refrain from further publishing his photographs alongside discriminatory content.

The proceedings were initiated following a series of social media posts by the President of the Municipality of Žitište, in which she publicly singled out Danijel Živanov because of his involvement in student protests and portrayed him through the lens of his LGBT+ identity and drag expression. Alongside his photographs, she posed questions such as whether a person like him should be “a role model for our children,” “the future of Serbia,” and whether he represents the values to which society should aspire. The court found that these actions constituted discriminatory conduct and hate speech.

The court upheld the claim and ordered Ivana Martinović to pay Danijel Živanov RSD 100,000 in compensation for non-pecuniary damage resulting from the violation of his personal dignity, as well as the costs of the proceedings.

The Association Da se zna! calls on Ivana Martinović to resign from her position as President of the Municipality of Žitište, given that the court has established that she discriminated against a citizen on the basis of a personal characteristic. A public official who violates the principles of equality and non-discrimination should not hold a public office that entails representing the interests of all citizens.

This judgment serves as an important affirmation that public officials bear a special responsibility to respect the human rights and dignity of all citizens, and that discrimination based on sexual orientation is unacceptable both in the public sphere and in the exercise of public office.

Association Da se zna!