Family and Friends Demand Release of Detained Youth from Obrovac; SNS Supporter Involved in Clash Remains Free

A crowd gathered outside the court in Novi Sad to support 19-year-old Miroslav Ljubez, who has been detained for nearly two weeks. Ljubez, from Obrovac near Bačka Palanka, is accused of inflicting severe bodily harm on a supporter of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) during a protest on May 19th.

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Justice for Miki, justice for Miki

"Justice for Miki, justice for Miki," chanted the supporters. Ljubez's defense team argues that he was acting in self-defense and to protect others during the incident. "That day, a group of SNS members attacked people at the rally, specifically the second suspect in this case attacked people and hit a man with his fist," explained Marko Zarić, Ljubez's lawyer.

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That day, a group of SNS members attacked people at the rally, specifically the second suspect in this case attacked people and hit a man with his fist.

However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Darko Tica, the SNS activist allegedly involved in initiating the confrontation, was not detained. DS councilor Dragan Petrović testified that Tica ran into the fray, hit him, and also struck a police officer. Tica has reportedly admitted to aggressive behavior at a public gathering but omitted hitting the officer.

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In that melee, Darko Tica bursts out and hits me on the right temple, my glasses fall, he hits a police officer with his right hand and he falls in front of me.

Ljubez's defense lawyer highlighted the absurdity of the situation: a young man is in custody while the individual who allegedly provoked the conflict, a much larger and older man, remains free. The case, initially a misdemeanor, was reclassified as a felony carrying a potential 12-year prison sentence after medical documentation was submitted. Ljubez's father expressed his distress, stating his son is depressed and doesn't understand why he is imprisoned.

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The person who caused the conflict was not ordered into detention.