Justice Minister Questions Activists’ Release on House Arrest

(BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

On May 21, Serbian Justice Minister Nenad Vujic called on the relevant authorities – namely the High Council of the Judiciary – to investigate the Novi Sad Appellate Court’s May 20 decision to release on house arrest three jailed activists suspected of crimes against the constitutional order and security of Serbia.

Questioning whether the order was made under undue influence, Vujic called on the General Public Prosecution to “employ all available legal means to protect the law and investigate the decision.”

In his statement, issued by the Ministry of Justice, Vujic expressed concern over the Appellate Court’s ruling “given the circumstances in which the decision was made, namely direct pressure on the judiciary.”

According to the minister, “the direct pressure on the judiciary entailed days of physically blocking the courthouse, preventing the normal operation of judicial bodies and the unacceptable violation of the principle of an independent and objective court.”

“This decision by the Appellate Court, if it was made due to or under the influence of the courthouse being blocked ‘by the street,’ represents a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary and the violation of the right to a fair trial before an independent court,” Vujic stressed.

On May 20, the Appellate Court in Novi Sad ruled that activists Marija Vasic, Lado Jovovic and Lazar Dinic be released on house arrest with electronic surveillance. As members of the Movement of Free Citizens and the University Students Against Authoritarian Government, the trio was arrested along with Davor Stefanovic, Mladen Cvijetic and Srdjan Djuric, Vasic, Jovovic and Dinic, a day before the massive March 15 rally in Belgrade, on suspicion of planning to topple the constitutional order.

Since their release, Milos Vucevic, the leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, has announced that his party will call on its members and supporters to commence a blockade of the Novi Sad Courthouse on May 26, demanding the release of its own members who have been jailed for four months now.

The former PMs statement was supported by President Aleksandar Vucic, who posted “Freedom for heroes, prison for blockading terrorists” on his Instagram profile.

Said four jailed Progressives are suspected of having beaten two Novi Sad students, of which one was female and sustained severe injuries. Following the incident, Milos Vucevic resigned as prime minister on Jan. 28.