All Dr Alex Davidovic did was to make a transfer to a Raiffeisen Bank account of a reputable software supplier - but the supplier never got his money. In a bizarre case of mistaken identity, Raiffeisen Bank has given the statement that Alex is on their list of persons involved with terrorist actions.
Raiffeisen Bank is a big international bank, and Dr Alex, his friends and family are shocked and devastated. The bank made a mistake, but is yet to correct it.
People who have known Dr Alex for decades respect him and describe him as peace-loving.
This man is trying to clear his name, but Raiffeisen Bank so far have not even responded to him.
What would YOU do if this happened to YOU?
[ Note: if the video is not here by the time you visit this page, you can download it here (118MB). YouTube video was deleted instantly, and there is no telling how long the one below is going to last.]
The full transcript of the interview is available, and you can follow the chronology of events at the Underdog Marketing Challenge site.
How can you help?
- Post your comment below. Your word counts.
- Visit Raiffeisen and mail/phone/fax the bank to immediately get Dr Alex Davidovic off their list of persons involved with terrorist actions.
OR, send a message online to the Raiffeisen contact person on the right side of the page. If you can, donate to Battler Fund to Clear Dr Alex's Name. This helps a lot because it makes battling a multi-billion-dollar international bank much easier.
27 comments:
This is terrible. Alex, best of luck, mate.
Lol!
Would be funny if it wasn't so serious. Alex a terrorist??? About as likely as me trying to snatch Usain Bolt's wallet and making a run for it.
Does this mean that a name is all that's required to identify someone sufficiently to get their name on a persona non grata list with an international bank? No cross referencing? What about date of birth, place of birth, photos showing it's the same person and other such minor details?
How many other people have their names on such lists without knowing it?
Is anyone monitoring which commercial institutions keep such lists and how they are compiled? I've heard horror stories in relation to mistaken identity with credit ratings. Now it seems to be hitching a ride with the terrorist hysteria. Mark my words, witches will be next.
Welcome to Orwell's 1984, 24 years late. Get a grip on yourself, world!
Note to myself: Put Raffeisen Bank on list of dumbarse Fawlty Towers institutions to be avoided.
For the record, I've known Alex Davidovic for two decades and he's about as rational and gentle a soul as you could wish to meet.
Given the modicum of checking required to disprove such an accusation the mind boggles at the arrogance of the Raiffeisen Bank. Perhaps for efficiency sake they made a blanket claim on all Alex Davidovics. I note that while casting aspersions and causing chaos in the lives of innocent individuals that today they have been accused of violating Russia's anti-trust laws (http://in.reuters.com/article/
asiaCompanyAndMarkets/
idINL095469820080109). Karma?
I have also known Alex for two decades plus and he is devoted family man who would not harm a soul.
I hope he can clear his name as quickly as possible and that the bank is forced to make a suitable apology.
Ian Rogers
I know Alex since we were seven year old and we were classmates for 12 years. I have seen him three times in past several years, in US (where I live), Serbia (where we were born), and Australia (where he lives).
It is not an overstatement to say that Alex is an exceptional person and philanthropist. I cannot describe any weaknesses that I have observed in Alex. He was a successful chess player for decades and he is presently a successful businessman. However, his accomplishments are not restricted to these areas. He is a good father of Damian and Diana, and he is commited to community service through taking care of several children from the challenged families.
Alex has unquestionable character and a pleasant demeanor. He is very much the opposite from the person being linked with some weird activities – I assure you that he is an asset to his family, friends, and nation.
I have known Alex for over 16 years. I worked with him for at least 4 years when he was working as a software developer.
The baseless accusation that Alex has been involved with terrorist activities borders on the preposterous.
He has always been a hardworking, down-to-earth and gentle person who has always been more than happy to help other people out and share his knowledge and experience both in the business and chess arenas.
As stated in a previous post it seems the bank is receiving its just desserts.
Pretty bad to see an international organization get it so wrong.
I've known Alex for some time from running my small business, and I know he wouldn't hurt a soul.
The Raiffeisen bank certainly won't be seeing any of my business if they keep these kinds of shoddy practices up.
I've known Alex for a few years now, and I must admit I'm pretty shocked as well to see this bank making such claims.
I've never done business with Raiffeisen bank before, and thanks to this ridiculous accusation I think I'll keep it that way.
Let's hope someone over there has the guts to sort out their records and issue an apology.
As a godfather of Alex Davidovic I can say that Raiffeisen Bank chose to slander a wonderful man for no reason,which will no doubt be eventually resolved in the court of law. Meanwhile, I'll be avoiding this bank like a plaque, and advising all the poeple I know to do the some.
Zeljko Zugic
I have known Alex Davidovic since we were 10 years old. I am proud to say that all these years he is one of my best friends.
When I heard about this case, I thought this was someone's joke (with a very bad taste).
Alex is one of the most peaceful personnes I have met throughout my life.
Never has he expressed any signs of violence against anybody in his surroundings and any idea of him being a terrorist is a pure nonsense.
I am a client of Raiffeisen Bank and until now a very happy one.
This case makes me rethinking about continuing business with them.
This nonsense should stop immediately. Please, correct this “mistaken identity” case and
give Alex his normal life back.
Nenad Stojanovic
M.Sc.E.E.
USA
This is indeed a terrible thing. It's silly and dangerous and appallingly wrong. I've known and worked with Alex since the very first day he arrived in Australia with his family and he has always been a very good person. He is kind, considerate, very smart and always prepared to help anyone and gives a lot of himself. He also is very hard working - he never seems to stop - and constantly has projects underway - so where he could possibly have found time for any terrorist acts is totally ludicrous. Besides, he is too gentle and sensible. Alex has a huge standing in the SA chess community - has been the chess writer of one of the major papers for over 10 years and regularly gives lectures to clubs and the like.
I hope Alex will able to clear his name very soon - it's a bit like say John Howard being called a terrorist - are we talking about an actor, an ex-PM or any number of other people who are totally blameless.
Alan Goldsmith
President, SA Junior Chess League
I’ve known Alex Davidovic since he was 4, and he was my best man 23 years ago. My family and I were appalled when we heard the news of him being on the list of people involved in terrorist activities of Raiffeisen bank. This whole idea is absurd to me, because Alex never wronbged anyone in his life. My biggest shock was that this kind of nonsense is happening in a developed, legally established, and stable country. Alex’s personal info, as well as those on his movement and contacts are known, so they’re easy to check, and it’s ridiculous to label someone a terrorist when you know their address and phone number. A lot of support from my family and me,
Dragutin Krpan, Nis, Serbia
Alex is my sister’s husband, and I know him since he was in college here in Nish, in Serbia (ex Yugoslavia). All my family knows him and they can stay behind these words. I must say I was really shocked when I saw this accusation! If Alex is a terrorist, then I really don’t know how other kind and honest people should be treated like?! After all noble things he did in his life, after being a chess champion, a good father to Damjan & Diana, becoming a dr… he definitely did not deserve this terrible joke! He is a hard-working man, dedicated to his job, so do you really think he has time to play some terrorist game?! Come on, even kids don’t play this stupid game anymore! He wouldn’t harm a fly, and suddenly he’s a terrorist???
The Raiffeisen bank should stop this ridiculous and foolish game, and apologize to him immediately! I thought that this was a serious bank, not some organisation that just point at someone and say he’s a terrorist?! What, you don’t like that he is from Serbia, is that the point maybe? Oh, please, people, get serious and stop bothering this innocent man!
P.S. To all honorable people (such as Alex): don’t forget to double check your banks, and try to avoid this one, unless you want to become a terrorist too!
Toni Stamenkovic and his family
If being a respectful, intelligent, talented, erudite small business owner with family values and a strong empathetic streak makes you a terrorist, then....how many more of us are guilty? This is the biggest load of rubbish and a clear case of mistaken identity. I have worked with Alex every week for nearly one year but I had known him for several years before that and was part of a small business owners group with him. He not only loves his family and loves his dogs (you can always trust someone who loves dogs and whose dogs love him) he loves his fellow people of the world - withour reservation! He is a gentle, patient soul without a hint of anger and no chip on his shoulder. Seriously, if Alex can be accused of this type of thing then ANYONE can be - who is next, you? me? Frightening.
Hey guys I think I’ve just worked out how Raiffeisen Bank came to this conclusion. They just said to themselves “Hey, wanna say someone has been involved with terrorist activities by picking names from a hat?”
Seriously what evidence do these guys have to base their accusations on?? I’ve been working closely with Alex for the past year and I’m sure if there was anything going on I would’ve picked up on it by now. Raiffeisen Bank, check your sources. If they even did it in the first place. I will not be doing business with them in the future.
I can understand that somebody make a mistake but I can't understand that case like this need so long time to be corrected. Alex Davidovic is a clear case of "Mistaken identity" and Raiffeisen Bank must react fast and solve the problem. That mistake is producing so many problems to one honest man such is Alex Davidovic. He has a job, family and normal life and because of "Mistaken identity" and Raiffeisen Bank thease days his life isn't normal at all. Raiffeisen Bank YOU ARE GREATLY MISTAKEN ABOUT ALEX!!!
Alex is my dear brother. I didn't know him from a childhood because we didn't live in the same city and after not even at the same continent but after the first time I meet him I realize that he is realy nice, piceful, great and all this in superlative man.
It is imposible that he is a terorist and this problem with "mistaken identity" is a shame for modern comunity. In this days you can find out about everything and everybody just with one click on the computer so it is imposible that Raiffeisen Bank need so long to corect a horrible mistake.
I must say the truth that from all of banks in my country I respect Raiffeisen the most but after this I must ask my self about that and be very careful when I need to choose a bank.
New from Raiffeisen-Baron Münchhausen
1. Alex is a terorist
2. Due to his perfect body mass, Shaquille O'Neal has become the first US basketball star to be granted a “Raiffeisen” horse racing jockey contract
I hope that the bank that issues a potentially defamatory statement about any individual has in place some official rules (presumably based on international and national legislation) that strictly define how this type of information can be obtained, how it was verified, to whom and under which circumstances it can be disclosed and what is a mitigation procedure in case when something goes wrong. I urge the Raffeisen Bank to act immediately and clear the situation that had been created by their statement which puts Dr. Alex Davidovich on a terrorist list. I know Alex Davidovich for more than ten years - he was my PhD student in the University of South Australia; we worked closely together on a number of research projects and kept in touch after he finished his PhD Thesis. As a PHD student, Alex was excellent -- talented, intelligent, serious, motivated, hard-working, reliable, and completely dependable... As a person he is above reproach. He was always striving for a balance in his professional and personal life, giving high priorities to his family obligations, charitable activities and intellectual development. His business provided enough means to have a good life, to put children through private schools... Now all this is threatened by a terrible accusation which - I am sure - has nothing to do with Dr. Alex Davidovich whom I know and respect. I hope that the Raffeisen bank recognises the scope of a human tragedy.
Alex Davidovic is a well known and respected chess champion, business man, a man of unimpeachable integrity.
Jennifer Orange
I have been utterly shocked by the news that my dearest friend Dr. Alex Davidovic has been put on the list of individuals connected to terrorism.
I have known Mr.Davidovic from my early childhood,from the age of seven.Even as a very young boy Mr.Davidovic was extremely well-behaved,polite and distinctly bright.He became the most gifted young mathematician of our generation who also pursued deep interest in chess and gradually became a world renowned chess player. All of his friends always followed with great joy his career as a world chess player cheering at all the matches he won.
Among the circle of his friends in Serbia,Mr.Davidovic is knows as an exceptionally successful businessman who has also continued with his academic advancements by comleting a doctorate in a completely new area of interest.
Putting Mr.Davidovic on the list of individuals connected with terrorism by Reiffesen Bank is a grave error and I would like to express my deepest protest and disbelief at the way he has been treated.
As a director of a successful real estate company I have had a long business relationship with the Reiffesen Bank in Nis which is the second largest one in Serbia. However,due to the fact that the Reiffesen Bank has committed such an appaling act and violation of human rights,I am forced to end my contract and close all my accounts. I shall also be making all my business associates aware of the potential dangers of being your clients so that they can reconsider their banking partners.
I would like to reiterate my deep disapproval of your action and express a complete astonishment that somebody like Mr.Davidovic and his familly should be subjected to such an ordeal.
I do believe that this error will be rectified and that Mr.Davidovic will in due course receive both your apology and compensation.
Emilija Petrovic,Nis,lawyer
I have known Alex Davidovic since the age of seven, since we learned our first letters and visited each others’ birthday parties. We stayed in touch, even though we later got separated by a few continents through certain circumstances. We have been seeing each other once a year when he comes to Nis for the last 40 years. A suitable period for getting to know someone and trust him.
The word that my friend David (as friends call him), an Olympic chess player and a very calm man by nature, is a terrorist left me in a state of shock. If it weren’t sad - it would be funny.
As an experienced professional in the media ( I work in the TV Nis) I know all about the mechanisms of manipulation with information and what kind of a mess can be caused by a poorly checked and incorrect information. That’s why I’m shocked with the fact that “Reiffeisen Bank”, one of the biggest banks in Europe, could afford that kind of mistake and with it put Its own reputation at risk. I certainly changed my opinion about “Reiffeisen Bank” and I will use the fact that I am a media person to tell a wider circle of people about the strong violation of civil rights by this bank.
In the end, I would like to condemn this act of, dare I say deliberate, disinformation which already caused the Davidovic family a lot of pain and suffering and wish them a soon recovery from this ordeal caused by NOTHING.
Olivera Sasek – Radulovic
Master of Sociology, Tv Nis , Serbia
I’M HORRIFIED!!!
EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS SHOULD DEAL WITH IT EX OFFICIO!!!
NO MONEY CAN COMPENSATE THE DAMAGE!!!
I WONDER, Could it have been different?
IN FAVOUR OF THE VICTIM,
A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD CURRENTLY RESIDED IN THE CITY OF NIS, SERBIA
Maybe it is just the lighting and the accent, but he looks and sounds like a terrorist to me... Seriously, though, I first met Dr Davidovic at the chess board in 1990; this was the game: [Event "Adelaide op"]
[Site "Adelaide"]
[Date "1990.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Depasquale, Chris"]
[Black "Davidovic, Aleksandar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[WhiteElo "2290"]
[BlackElo "2425"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "1990.12.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AUS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
1. e4 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nge2 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 Rb8 9. f4 a6 10. h3 Nd7 11. g4 Nd4 12. Ng3 b5 13. cxb5 axb5 14. Be3 b4 15. Nce2 Ba6 16. g5 Qb6 17. f5 Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2 Ne5 19. Rfd1 Bb5 20. Bf1 Ra8 21. Qf2 Qa6 22. f6 Bh8 23. d4 cxd4 24. Bxd4 Bxf1 25. Nxf1 Nc6 26. fxe7 Rfe8 27. Bxh8 Kxh8 28. Rxd6 Kg8 29. Rc1 Rac8 30. Qc5 Rxe7 31. Rxc6 Rxc6 32. Qxc6 Qd3 33. Qd5 Qxh3 34. Qd8+ Kg7 35. Qd4+ Kg8 36. Qd8+ Kg7 37. Qxe7 Qg4+ 38. Kh1 Qf3+ 39. Kg1 Qg4+ 40. Kf2 Qf4+ 41. Ke2 Qxc1 42. Qe5+ Kg8 43. Ne3 1-0
How can anybody believe that the person who chose those moves as Black can be a terrorist... Seriously, though, I was Dr Davidovic's teammate at the 1998 Chess Olympiad and can state categorically that my moving from the Men's team quarters to the women's team's quarters had ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with intermittent explosions emanating from Dr Davidovic's room... Seriously, though, I understand that this is a serious matter but the idea that Dr Davidovic is a terrorist is such an absurd idea that I just cannot take it seriously!
Alex a terrorist is too ridiculous for words. Just a slight investigative effort would have sufficed to see that. Obviously the bank made no effort whatsoever.
If you label somebody a child molester, a murderer, a politician or any other reprehensible thing you are held responsible for your comments and should you not be able to prove your claim you are commiting slander, a crime.
Labeling Alex a terrorist is criminal and those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.
Alex Wohl, former chess collegue and friend of Alex.
Dr. Alex Davidovic is my dear brother. Well…, technically we are first cousins. Our families were very close in both senses (lived just around the corner), neither of us have any siblings and we grew up us brothers. Being five years younger, an adoring younger brother, I often served as confidant and sympathetic sounding board for his hopes, dreams and expectations. Alex has no extremist nor political bone in his body. Growing up his interest were (in fluctuating order) chess, girls, computers and literature. Marriage and children changed that list in obvious manner, but never extended it to politics. His political views (if they can be called that) are strong opposition to violence of any kind, and belief in rule of law and playing by the rules (not surprising for a lawyer’s son). Other than that (or rather as a consequence) he hoped to live in a society where excelling in his chosen profession would provide him with good (middle class) life and leave him time to raise family, better his community and spend some of it with his friends.
After achieving a remarkable feat of reaching a level of chess prominence while earning his BA in four years, he moved to Australia in 1990 to further his chess career. I moved to USA in 1992 to pursue graduate studies and academic career, but we stayed in close touch over the years. Apart from phone conversations and emails, I visited him in Adelaide for a month in 1996, he visited me in New York a few times, and we spent some summers in Serbia visiting family and friends (most recently in 2007). We had many opportunities to talk about families, careers and life in general. Alex is full of praise for his adoptive country. Warm welcome by the chess community, help settling in, friendliness of the people, social and medical care, safety, good education, help starting a business… He built himself a life he always wanted. While building a business and raising the family, not to mention chess, he earned a Ph.D in Computer Science. His company produces mainly education software and programmer’s tools and he is in a position to chose projects that he finds challenging and worth doing. He teaches occasional course at university and attends conferences that interest him. While he is mostly finished with high level competition (after representing Australia in two Olympiads), chess provides a venue to give back to the community. He writes a chess column, teaches it in schools and trains South Australian Juniors. He is a devoted father to two successful children. Damjan is a University student holding a part time job, while Diana is an excellent high school student in her final year. Alex has a large circle of friends in Adelaide (some of whom I met in 1996) by and large professionals in academia, business and chess world. His parents moved to Adelaide after retirement as well. In short, in all our conversations I found no reason for concern and was indeed very glad that my brother lives a happy, successful and fulfilling life until…
This ridiculous accusation by Raiffeisen Bank. Everything Alex ever did or said, his whole life proves that they made a tragic mistake. And yet, such an accusation can cause grievous injury to his livelihood and reputation. I applaud the Raiffeisen bank’s effort to make the world safer. I could even understand making an error (although probably not forgive, given the damage caused). But to have no correction mechanism boggles the mind. An innocent man, with name, address, photo, video, … asks them to check their information. Not suing. Not demanding millions. Just asking for double check, correction and retraction in effort to repair his reputation. And they ignore the request. Unconscionable. I can only hope that they will do the right thing quickly and publicly before Alex suffers irreparable damage.
Dr. Ivan Petrovic
Associate Professor of Mathematics
New York. USA
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