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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Numerous shortcomings in work of International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague

Belgrade/New York, 12 June 2025

Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić today presented the Republic of Serbia’s strong criticism of the work of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals in The Hague (the Mechanism) to the members of the United Nations Security Council.

Speaking at the Security Council session in New York, during which the Mechanism’s semi-annual report was discussed, Vujić emphasised that, with the conclusion of trials for serious violations of international humanitarian law, its mandate has in practice come to an end, and that in line with Security Council positions and resolutions, the conduct of relevant judicial proceedings should now be entrusted to national jurisdictions.

He stated that Serbia gives assurances that the conditions for early or temporary release, for which it provides guarantees, will be fully respected.

The Minister pointed out that such an approach would reduce costs, ease the burden on the families of convicted individuals, create conditions for proper rehabilitation, and above all, enhance the credibility of the Mechanism as an international “authority”.

Regarding proceedings for serious violations of international humanitarian law currently before national courts, Vujić stressed that the Office of the Prosecutor of the Mechanism holds no authority over national judicial institutions.

He also noted that no person who has committed a criminal offence will be granted asylum or shelter in Serbia, and that no criminal proceedings will be initiated without sufficient evidence establishing reasonable suspicion that a criminal offence has been committed.

According to him, deficiencies in the Prosecution’s work over the past decades cannot be resolved through programmes promoting the so-called achievements of the Mechanism and the ICTY.