Lawyer: Authorities hiding suspects in activist's assault case

The lawyer for an assaulted activist alleges that Serbian authorities are intentionally concealing details about the suspects, suggesting a desire to protect them. Vladimir Tupanjac, attorney for Vojislav Zdravkovski, stated that while the suspects have been identified, officials are operating "outside the public eye, in secret, as if someone wants to protect them." This comes after the Ministry of Interior (MUP) claimed all necessary measures were taken following the assault report and that the search for the perpetrators is ongoing.

Zdravkovski, an activist with the Zbor Rakovica group, reported being attacked and briefly detained in April during a sticker-posting campaign. The MUP insists it acted on the prosecutor's orders and that the search continues. Despite this, Zbor Rakovica announced a protest for July 6 outside the police station, demanding the dismissal of the police chief.

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They are operating outside the public eye, in secret, as if someone wants to protect them.

Eyewitness Dimitrije expressed disbelief that the MUP took two months to address the public, suggesting it only happened because of the planned protest. He criticized the police for equating sticker-posting with the assault and kidnapping of an activist. "We hope that the dismissal of the chief would lead to some change, that something would be done," Dimitrije said, calling the two-month silence and the current information about three suspects being sought "simply awful."

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We hope that the dismissal of the chief would lead to some change, that something would be done.

Lawyer Tupanjac described the MUP's statement as a public defense rather than a transparent update. "They are justifying themselves here, using some general formulations, saying that everything was done in accordance with the law, but we don't see what has been done according to the law," he stated. The group insists on knowing what actions have been taken and why it has taken over two months to apprehend the identified suspects. Tupanjac suggested the public prosecutor could have held a press conference to demonstrate progress.

N1 contacted the Ministry of Interior and the relevant prosecutor's office but received no response by the time of publication. Zbor Rakovica plans to proceed with their protest, demanding accountability and action in the case.

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They are justifying themselves here, using some general formulations, saying that everything was done in accordance with the law, but we don't see what has been done according to the law.