Former Army Headquarters Complex (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)
The criminal complaint lodged by the Ministry of Culture against Estela Radonjic Zivkov, a conserver and the former vice-president of the Institute for the Protection of the Cultural Monuments of Serbia, represents “blatant harassment and witness intimidation,” the anti-regime Blockading University Students announced on their website on Aug. 25.
According to the university students, the complaint – which alleges administrative failings and questionable public procurements for the 2023 restoration of the Manasija Monastery – represents the “blatant political persecution” of Radonjic Zivkov and an attempt to criminalize and discredit her as a witness in the trial of Culture Minister Nikola Selakovic and his fellow defendants, accused of illegally voiding the heritage status of the former Army General Staff complex.
“We emphasize that [the Ministry’s complaint] constitutes blatant harassment and witness intimidation. The only goal of this expedited investigation is to lay the groundwork in the media for the incarceration of [Radonjic Zikov] ahead of [Selakovic’s] next court hearing and to silence a witness,” the students said.
Radonjic Zivkov was brought to the Criminal Police Directorate for questioning on Aug. 25. Per her legal team’s advice, she refused to give a statement or participate in the proceedings against her.
The Blockading University Students recalled that the next hearing in the Special Court for Organized Crime’s trial of Minister Selakovic is scheduled for September 21 and underscored the importance of this hearing for the rest of the trial and maintaining the integrity of the entire proceedings.
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