Public Prosecutors Demand Immediate Reaction from High Council Over Attack on Colleague

Prosecutors Association of Serbia (uts.org.rs)

On Aug. 17, the Prosecutors Association of Serbia demanded that the High Prosecutorial Council immediately react to the attack on Valjevo prosecutor Vukasin Vujicic, whose car was set on fire in front of his home in the night of Aug. 15, cautioning the event represents a threat against all his colleagues as well.

The Association demanded that the High Council – the country’s highest authority charged with protecting the independence of public prosecutors – react post haste to the attack, “especially due to the increasing public threats, targeting, belittling and other forms of undue influence other prosecutors have recently been facing” as well.

“An attack on a public prosecutor for doing his job is not just an attack on an individual. Such an [act] represents endangerment of the independence of public prosecutors and the rule of law because it sends the message that a prosecutor’s professional decision can have repercussions on his personal safety,” the Association stated.

The Association has also demanded that the authorities urgently and thoroughly determine the circumstances of the attack, expressing particular worry over the fact “intense public attacks and pressures on prosecutor Vujicic over his professional actions” preceded the demolition of his vehicle.

University students from Valjevo, local citizens’ assemblies and certain political actors rallied in downtown Valjevo on Aug. 16 in support to Vujicic.

Speaking for N1, Vujicic expressed his suspicion that he was targeted over the cases he is leading. According to the Nova online portal, one of these cases pertains to a criminal group headed by Marko Mirkovic, known as having close ties to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party.