Initially announced on national television, six activists from PSG and members of the student group STAV were arrested on March 14, right before a monumental protest in Belgrade. Among them were Jovović and Dinić. Six students were also arrested immediately after a June 28 protest in Belgrade, among them was Dimić.
In the Novi Sad case, there were several irregularities throughout the proceedings, including an illegally obtained recording of the activists’ alleged conversation. There were also moments that mobilized and inspired many people to protest and call for their release, such as when Marija Vasić went on hunger strike following the court’s decision to extend her detention.
In Dimić’s case, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade issued a statement claiming that the Niš student was on the run. Meanwhile, he had been wearing an ankle monitor for over a month.
In any case, after long and exhausting months of appeals to the courts, house arrest was lifted for all four of them.
Although this represents a kind of victory, these activists are still set to go on trial. For now, however, there is reason to celebrate.
Detention Is Still Detention
In the cases of Dinić and Jovović, they spent a total of two and a half months in prison and four months under house arrest. Both told Mašina that “detention is detention,” regardless of where it takes place.
Dinić said he was surprised by the Court of Appeals’ decision, as none of them had expected it to come at that moment. “Our appeals were submitted more than a month and a half ago. I was the last to find out about the decision, because at the time I was out on my scheduled one-hour walk, so they told me only when I returned. After almost seven months, it was a shock,” Dinić explained.
When asked about the differences between prison and house arrest, he said that, in the end, detention is still detention – whether in jail or at home.
“Of course, after Klisa [prison], things were a little easier, I felt a bit more relieved, but it was still detention. Especially in my case, since I didn’t have access to a phone, the internet, or other people. Basically, I did the same things I did in Klisa: reading, writing, playing music. Honestly, that helped me a lot,” Dinić said.
Jovović shared a similar experience. “Honestly, I didn’t expect it. When my wife told me the news, I asked her to check again. It took me some time to adjust to the new situation. After the initial shock, my wife and I went together to pick up our son from school,” he said.
Like Dinić, he pointed out that both forms of detention are restrictive, although there is still a difference.
“Especially in our cases, because our measures were extremely strict. We weren’t allowed to use the phone, the internet, or receive visitors. That made life difficult for my family, my wife and our children. On the other hand, things felt a bit more positive after I came back from Klisa, because we were all together again. There were ups and downs emotionally, but there was also an outpouring of support and many conversations with friends which were really important,” Jovović said.
He added that he does not know what to expect once the trial continues. “I only hope for respect for the law. Simply put, if something isn’t admissible as evidence, it shouldn’t be used. My lawyers are optimistic, and so am I,” he concluded.
“A Politically Fabricated Case”
Dimić reminded Mašina that he was initially released to defend himself, only for house arrest to be imposed later on. The entire period from June 29 until now has been a drawn-out ordeal, he said.
Asked about the difficulties he faced while wearing the ankle monitor, the student from Niš said he couldn’t attend university normally. He also mentioned a deeply personal example: “To take an exam, there was a lengthy procedure. You had to submit a request to the Higher Court in Belgrade within a specific timeframe. Then my grandmother passed away, and I was allowed out for only a few hours to attend the funeral,” Dimić said.
He noted his first hearing has still not been scheduled and there has been no main trial either, meaning there has been no progress typical of a normal trial.
“The Court of Appeals repeatedly ruled that I should remain under house arrest to prevent possible repetition of the alleged offense. Yet that same court repeatedly stated that there is no reasonable suspicion that I would repeat the crime. In that sense, the entire process, mine and for the others, is a politically fabricated case – a persecution of dissidents and critics by the authorities,” Dimić concluded.
M.B.
