Mladen Cvijetić, Srđan Đurić, Lazar Dinić, Marija Vasić, Lado Jovović, and Davor Stefanović were arrested on March 14 and have been held in detention at Klisa prison in Novi Sad since. Warrants have been issued for six more members of the organization “Stav” who are currently in exile outside of the country.
In a unanimous ruling, the pre-trial panel justified its decision by saying that the activists had committed the criminal offense of “preparing an act against the constitutional order and security of Serbia.” They wrote that “This is due to the fact that, based on the case file, there is a well-founded suspicion that the accused committed the criminal offense as described in the indictment proposal.” The imprisoned activists have not been tried or convicted of anything.
On March 13, footage of the activists’ meeting was aired on national television. At the meeting, they were recorded discussing possible ways to impose a transitional government and break into the building of the Radio Television of Serbia at the March 15 protest in Belgrade.
The court announced that their detention will continue as long as protests in the country continue, saying that such circumstances may a “repeat offense” likely.
The panel also considered applying less severe measures like house arrest, but concluded that the intensity of the specific circumstances remains unchanged and that detention remains the only appropriate and effective measure at this time.
Hunger and Thirst Strike
Marija Vasić, the only woman among those imprisoned and a sociology teacher at Jovina Gymnasium in Novi Sad, began a hunger and thirst strike in response to the decision to extend the detention of the activists. After three days, during which her condition significantly deteriorated, she was transferred to a prison hospital and is now in stable condition.
From custody, Vasić reportedly said: “I demand to be released from illegal detention, and I will protest this with my life—because I ask for no mercy, nor would I give it to you.”
Ana Brnabić’s Claims
President of the National Assembly Ana Brnabić stated that the activists in Novi Sad were detained because they allegedly planned “terrorist actions, the initiation of a civil war, and endangering the life” of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, according to news portal N1.
“They were planning on how to manipulate the people participating in the protests because they knew most of those people were not in favor of civil war or violence,” Brnabić said on pro-government Happy TV channel.
Brnabić added that a recording of a meeting between members of the Free Citizens Movement and the organization “Stav” was made by one of the activists themselves and subsequently handed over to state authorities. She noted that it was “problematic” that the recording wasn’t made by security services.
Defense lawyers for the imprisoned activists have maintained that the meeting was illegally recorded by Serbia’s Security and Information Agency (BIA), and therefore cannot be used as evidence in court.
Court Blockade in Novi Sad: “Until Detainees Are Released”
Early yesterday morning, before 7 a.m., a blockade of the Higher Court building in Novi Sad began. Citizens blocked all four entrances to the building, demanding the release of the activists. A large number of military police officers were present. At several points, there were scuffles between police and protesters at the entrances, and pepper spray was used.
After these incidents, the police withdrew into the building, and court employees who exited the building were booed. Today, photojournalist Gavrilo Andrić was arrested and then later released.
A.M., I.M.
