The judge should act in accordance with the law.

Regarding the Supreme Court’s failure to rule on the appeal against the detention of Marija Vasić and five other detainees

The court is not acting in accordance with the law. This applies not only to the case of Marija Vasić, but also to the cases of all other detainees. Under the law, the court was obligated to decide on the defense’s appeal without delay, as this was the most urgent matter in the entire procedure concerning pre-trial detention.

The court is able to operate smoothly and safely, especially in urgent cases and, among other things, in matters of detention. On Liberation Boulevard, there is a Supreme Court building with a specialized anti-corruption division that is neither occupied nor blockaded. I would like to point out that the Supreme Court in this building conducted arrest and interrogation proceedings even while the District and Higher Courts on Sutjeska Street were blockaded. Therefore, it is entirely possible for this work to continue undisturbed at an alternative location.

The indictment has not yet been served on the defense. Under procedural law, the judge of the Higher Court who received the case and is expected to rule on it is obligated to review the indictment. He is also authorized to return it to the public prosecutor’s office for further investigation. Notably, numerous pieces of evidence that should have been presented during the investigation are missing, and important facts remain unclear.

We expect the judge assigned to this case to act in accordance with the law.

Vladimir Horovic, lawyer, on the Supreme Court’s failure to rule on the appeal against the detention of Marija Vasić and five other detainees.