Lawyer: Government's Attack on Conservator Shows 'Hooligan Logic'

The recent actions against Estela Radonjić Živkov, a conservator at the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, have drawn sharp criticism from lawyer Božo Prelević, who likens the government's approach to that of "football hooligans." Prelević argues that the criminal charges filed against Radonjić Živkov are not based on genuine evidence of wrongdoing but are rather a retaliatory measure designed to silence a key witness in the case involving Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković.

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Mene krivična prijava protiv Estele Radonjić Živkov uopšte ne čudi, jer naša vlast ima huligansku logiku sa fudbalskog stadiona, i sve što radi samo su maniri huligana.

According to Prelević, the raid by the criminal police on the Institute to seize documents related to public procurement from 2023, occurring shortly after Selaković's trial, is a "performance for the public." He expresses strong doubt that any incriminating evidence will be found, drawing parallels to a past incident where computers and documents were allegedly removed from Lutrija Srbije under suspicious circumstances. This, he contends, exemplifies a pattern of behavior where those in power resort to illicit means to evade legal consequences.

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To, da Više Javno tužilaštvo šalje odred Uprave kriminalističke policije u Republički zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture koji je sačuvao Generalštab, da bi se zaplenila neka dokumentaciju od pre tri godine, je predstava za javnost.

Prelević's commentary paints a grim picture of the state of justice and public discourse in Serbia. He asserts that the government's methods – characterized by lying, insulting, manipulating, threatening, and intimidating – transcend even the lowest forms of street-level behavior. He describes them as "hooligans" who, despite their "patriotic" posturing, engage in corrupt practices and demonstrate a profound lack of responsibility. This perspective suggests a deep-seated concern about the erosion of rule of law and the use of state power for political persecution.

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To nije vlast, to su maniri huligana, ljudi koji se dovijaju da izbegnu krivično gonjenje ne birajući sredstva, koji nemaju nikakav osećaj odgovornost što su na vlasti, i ceo njihov psihološki profil postupanja su fudbalski huligani.