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Open Letter Supports Conservator Radonjić Živkov, Calling Proceedings an Attempt to Discredit Her
🇷🇸 Serbia /Culture & Society

Open Letter Supports Conservator Radonjić Živkov, Calling Proceedings an Attempt to Discredit Her

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement In the courts
  • Serbian professional associations, academic institutions and civil society groups publicly backed conservator Estela Radonjić Živkov over pressure linked to the General Staff case.
  • The groups said a separate proceeding based on a Culture Ministry complaint could intimidate and discredit her while she testifies in a related case.
  • They called on Serbian authorities to act lawfully, impartially and transparently and protect experts’ professional integrity.

A coalition of Serbian conservation and professional organizations has accused the Culture Ministry of trying to discredit conservator Estela Radonjić Živkov while she serves as a witness in a case involving Belgrade’s General Staff complex.

The Society of Conservators of Serbia said professional associations, academics, institutions, civil society groups and individuals had expressed full support for Živkov. The statement said she faced additional pressure because of her personal and professional involvement in the dispute over the complex’s protected cultural status.

The aim of the proceeding initiated after the Culture Ministry’s complaint is clearly to discredit her.

— Society of Conservators of SerbiaThe organization described the separate proceeding against Estela Radonjić Živkov.

Živkov was summoned on Aug. 25 to the Criminal Police Directorate’s anti-corruption service over a criminal complaint filed by the Culture Ministry. At the same time, she is a witness in proceedings before the Special Division of the Higher Court in Belgrade against ministry officials and officials from two cultural heritage institutes. The case concerns suspected illegalities in removing the General Staff buildings’ status as protected cultural property.

This clearly indicates a well-founded suspicion that this is pressure on a witness and an attempt at intimidation.

— Society of Conservators of SerbiaThe statement characterized the action against Živkov.

The supporting organizations said the circumstances created serious concern that the action against her represented institutional pressure and could intimidate or discredit not only one witness, but also experts who opposed removing the site’s protection. They said the protection of the General Staff complex resulted from a process lasting decades, while its removal is addressed in the prosecution’s indictment proposal.

The groups called on the Culture Ministry, Interior Ministry, prosecutors, courts and other state bodies to act lawfully, impartially and transparently. They urged authorities to avoid selective action and any conduct that could pressure witnesses or restrict experts from presenting their professional knowledge. The signatories also said responsibility for defending the General Staff complex was shared and that they would not abandon it.

Responsibility for defending the General Staff complex is shared, and we will not give it up.

— Supporting organizationsThe groups reaffirmed their opposition to removing the complex’s protected status.
About this summary

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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