Journalist Detained over Effigy, EESC Calls for His Release

Bosko Savkovic (Photo: PrintScreen YouTube)

The journalist Bosko Savkovic has been set 30-day detention on suspicion that he committed the crime of advocating violent overthrow of constitutional order and security by carrying a banner at the Serbia against Violence protest that included "Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hanged" in effigy.

Savkovic's family confirmed for the Association of Journalists of Serbia that he was detained and that the reason given for the detention was that he may repeat the offense or influence witnesses.

Savkovic's daughter Emilija said the banner he carried had not included any effigy when it was made, that someone attached it without his knowledge, and that it was removed when noticed.

Oliver Ropke, president of the European Economic and Social Committee, and Dimitris Dimitriadis, president of the External Relations Section of the European Economic and Social Committee, have condemned Savkovic's arrest and called on the Serbian authorities "to properly investigate the case in view of Mr Savković['s] immediate release."

"We are deeply concerned about the recent developments in Serbia where Mr Savković, the Co-chair of the EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), was detained by the Serbian authorities following peaceful protests in Belgrade," the EESC said in a statement, which describes Savkovic as "a man of conviction and integrity."

Savkovic is the third journalist to be jailed on suspicion of the offense of advocating violent overthrow of constitutional order and security after Tabloid newspaper owner Milovan Brkic and Srbin.info reporter Dejan Zlatanovic.