Serbian students: Lawsuit against heritage official is witness intimidation

A group of students protesting in Serbia has declared that a lawsuit filed against Estela Radonjić Živkov, a former deputy president of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, is an act of "open harassment and intimidation of a witness." The students, who identify as "Students in Blockade," stated in a release that the action, initiated by the Ministry of Culture, constitutes "open political persecution" and an attempt to "criminalize" Radonjić Živkov.

Radonjić Živkov is a key witness in a trial against the Minister of Culture, Nikola Selaković, and others. They are accused of illegally revoking the cultural heritage status of the General Staff building complex in Belgrade. The students claim that the ministry's lawsuit, which concerns an administrative procedure from 2023, is a retaliatory measure, despite an internal audit confirming the procedure was lawful.

According to the students, Radonjić Živkov was questioned by the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP) on Tuesday. Citing advice from her legal team, she refused to provide a statement or participate in the proceedings. The students asserted that this action is "open harassment and intimidation of a witness" and that the "express investigation" aims to prepare for her potential arrest before the upcoming court date, thereby silencing her testimony.

The next hearing in the General Staff case is scheduled for September 21 at the Special Court. The students emphasized its "exceptional importance for the further course of the trial and the protection of the integrity of the entire process."