Three activists arrested in Novi Sad two months ago have been released from pre-trial detention and placed under house arrest, while the cases of three others will be reconsidered by the Novi Sad Higher Court, the Court of Appeal announced. Among those released is Professor Marija Vasić, who has been on a hunger strike for a week. Their detention had previously sparked protests in Belgrade and Novi Sad, with defense lawyers describing the activists as “political prisoners.”
Those transferred to house arrest with electronic monitoring are Lazar Dinić, an activist from the informal student group STAV (Students Against Authoritarian Rule), Marija Vasić, and Lado Jovović from the Movement of Free Citizens. The court has not yet made a final decision regarding the detention of Mladen Cvijetić, Srđan Đurić, and Davor Stefanović, whose cases will now be reassessed. The decision to release three of the activists came five days after citizens began blocking the courthouse in Novi Sad, protesting an earlier ruling that had extended their detention.
The prosecution is also pursuing proceedings against six additional STAV activists - Mila Pajić, Dejan Bagarić, Doroteja Antić, Branislav Đorđević, Anja Pitulić, and Jovan Dražić — for whom arrest warrants have been issued. They were indicted last week for the criminal offense of violent overthrow of the constitutional order, although the indictment has not yet been confirmed by the court.
The activists were originally arrested on March 14, a day before a major protest in Belgrade, on suspicion of preparing acts against Serbia’s constitutional order and security. The arrests followed the broadcast of an allegedly intercepted audio recording on pro-government television channels, which purportedly captured a discussion about promoting the idea of a transitional government during the protest and entering the building of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). The case is being led by prosecutor Slobodan Josimović, who has sought detention for all suspects from the outset, with detention orders issued by Novi Sad Higher Court judge Tatjana Đurašković. Defense lawyers have pointed to a number of procedural irregularities, including being initially denied access to the case files. After eventually reviewing the materials, they argued that the case largely relies on the audio recording, which they claim was illegally obtained by Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) and therefore cannot be used as evidence in court.
Those transferred to house arrest with electronic monitoring are Lazar Dinić, an activist from the informal student group STAV (Students Against Authoritarian Rule), Marija Vasić, and Lado Jovović from the Movement of Free Citizens. The court has not yet made a final decision regarding the detention of Mladen Cvijetić, Srđan Đurić, and Davor Stefanović, whose cases will now be reassessed. The decision to release three of the activists came five days after citizens began blocking the courthouse in Novi Sad, protesting an earlier ruling that had extended their detention.
The prosecution is also pursuing proceedings against six additional STAV activists - Mila Pajić, Dejan Bagarić, Doroteja Antić, Branislav Đorđević, Anja Pitulić, and Jovan Dražić — for whom arrest warrants have been issued. They were indicted last week for the criminal offense of violent overthrow of the constitutional order, although the indictment has not yet been confirmed by the court.
The activists were originally arrested on March 14, a day before a major protest in Belgrade, on suspicion of preparing acts against Serbia’s constitutional order and security. The arrests followed the broadcast of an allegedly intercepted audio recording on pro-government television channels, which purportedly captured a discussion about promoting the idea of a transitional government during the protest and entering the building of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). The case is being led by prosecutor Slobodan Josimović, who has sought detention for all suspects from the outset, with detention orders issued by Novi Sad Higher Court judge Tatjana Đurašković. Defense lawyers have pointed to a number of procedural irregularities, including being initially denied access to the case files. After eventually reviewing the materials, they argued that the case largely relies on the audio recording, which they claim was illegally obtained by Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) and therefore cannot be used as evidence in court.
Protest in front of the Court in Novi Sad in support to the 6 detained activists. Photo: Fonet/021.
