Serbian anti-corruption and organized crime prosecutors accused the country’s president of exercising illegal influence after the right-wing leader described them as a corrupt gang and blamed them for delays facing a project to redevelop the bombed former Yugoslav army headquarters in central Belgrade, due to an investigation into that facility.
“Through the offensive and untrue comments, Aleksandar Vučič is targeting the prosecutors again,” the latter said in a statement, where they emphasize that Vučič had abused the power given to him by the Constitution, trying to exert an illegal influence through comments on the following investigations.
As anti-government protests continue for more than a year in Serbia, Vucic has stepped up criticism of judges and prosecutors, including those investigating the collapse of the Novi Sad train station shelter that sparked the protests.
In April of this year, hundreds of judges and prosecutors expressed great concern about the president’s comments against them. Some claimed they were illegal. But this did not stop the Serbian president.
In the most recent interview with a pro-government broadcaster, he accused the judiciary of unfairly releasing protesters detained during student-led demonstrations.
“It is unbelievable that we have a situation where every day they release people who throw stones, sticks and beat other people in the streets. There are a bunch of corrupt people in the prosecutor’s office, as well as such judges,” he said.
But prosecutors argue that these statements obstruct justice and undermine the constitutional and legal order, as well as the rule of law.
In the most recent report on the journey of the Balkan country towards EU membership, the European Commission recommended, among other things, the reduction of political interference in the judiciary and prosecutor’s office.
“Pressure on the judiciary remains a concern, and there are concerns about the autonomy of the prosecution,” said the Progress Report, which was published on Tuesday.
