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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Board of judges commended on sentence to prime minister Djindjic’s assassins

Belgrade, 24 May 2007

Serbian Minister of Justice Dusan Petrovic commended the board of judges of the Special Section of the Belgrade District Court and the chief justice Nata Mesarevic because despite the extremely complex circumstances, they managed to bring to an end to the first instance criminal proceedings of the persons accused of assassinating prime minister Zoran Djindjic.

Dusan Petrovic

At a press conference in the Serbian government building, Petrovic said that with yesterday’s verdict Serbia clearly understood that it is possible for judges to implement the law and reach a verdict according to their own conscience even in the most complex court cases.

According to Petrovic, this is a feature of civilised countries and a point of distinction between those countries that can be numbered among the civilised ones and those that cannot, and added that in its state and legal history Serbia has never before faced such court proceedings.

He recalled that the persons were accused of the assassination of the representative of the highest authorities, but also of associating for criminal purposes, adding that these acts are qualified as committed with the aim of disturbing the constitutional order.

Petrovic said it is very important that after so much time and so much pressure on the case, the proceedings ended with a verdict. He also said that the defence, as well as the prosecutor, announced appeal, so the case will probably not be brought to an end here and Serbia might expect second instance proceedings.

The Minister voiced hope that the proceedings will be concluded within a reasonable period and added that according to Serbian legislation, there is room for a regular legal remedy after the second instance court decision.

He stressed that the Ministry and the government will support the specialised judiciary and announced that parliament will discuss amendments to the Criminal Code tomorrow.

According to him, changes to the Criminal Code related to detention are necessary so that most complex cases are completed in regular conditions.

The legal framework is also necessary so as to adjust the duration of detention to the needs of criminal proceedings, in a move to meet top standards of the civilised world, Petrovic said.