EU: In Serbia, there should be responsibility for war crimes and not to punish those who protest

2024-03-15 22:04:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

EU: In Serbia, there should be responsibility for war crimes and not to punish

The European Union demands that freedom of expression be ensured in Serbia as a fundamental right and that those who protest against the glorification of war criminals are not punished.

This is what the spokeswoman for the European Commission on enlargement issues, Ana Pisonero, said in an answer to Radio Free Europe regarding the prison sentence of an activist in Serbia for throwing eggs on a mural of General Ratko Mladic, convicted by the Tribunal. of The Hague for war crimes and genocide.

"Justice must ensure accountability for war crimes, not punish those who protest against the glorification of war criminals," said Pisonero.

"Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in the EU, which must be protected. Any measure of deprivation of liberty or any criminal sanction must be justified and proportionate. "Such a measure imposed on the basis of the expression of political attitudes is problematic and subject to strict limitations under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights," she adds.

Activist Aida Qorovi? and her colleague, Jelena Jaqimovi?, were arrested in Serbia on the day that marks the war against fascism because they had thrown some eggs on a mural dedicated to war crimes convict Ratko Mladi?.

This activist was initially sentenced to a fine of 850 euros, which she had to pay by December 14, 2023. In the court's decision, it was stated that Aida Qorovic had violated the law on public order because she "had thrown eggs in the direction of a residential building". and that he had insulted the policemen when they were carrying out their duties.

Qorovic told Radio Free Europe on March 14 that he has a deadline of eight days during which he must be notified to serve his sentence in "Padinska skela" prison, where he would have to stay for three months.

The European Union has repeatedly warned that in Serbia, even from the highest level, war crimes are questioned, criminals are glorified and genocide is denied. The European bloc has also said that such behavior is not in line with the intention expressed by Serbia that it wants to integrate into the EU, nor with the spirit of building good neighborly relations in the region./ Rel