Implementation of Transitional Laws in Serbia 2006

Implementation of Transitional Laws in Serbia 2006After the investigation and analysis of all circumstances of this case,the Initiative pressed criminal charges against Nemanja Djuric and sixJohn Does on August 11, 2005 to the Pozarevac Public Prosecution forinstigating national, racial and religious hatred, discord or intolerance 872and criminal acts of inflicting milder assault and battery 873 . Based on thesubmitted criminal charges, the District Public Prosecution in Pozarevacconducted investigation before the Pozarevac District Court, and theacting investigative judge was Dragan Todorovic. During the investigation,suspect Aleksandar Stanojevic gave a statement in which he said: “A groupof Muslim soldiers in our barracks was always separated, they stuck tothemselves, they often made orders to others, so some of the commanderswere afraid of them…Tension grew between Muslim and Serbian soldiers... At around 11 pm,I laid and fell asleep, I was awoken by noise, I heard someone yelling, thedoor knocking, and the light was on.I heard Anis Masovic, who was a damaged party, saying, “They beat likegirls, he stood there next to my bed without a single scratch.” Later Anisshowed me a bruise on his thigh, I think it was his right thigh, but the bruisewas rather small… In the next few days we had problems with Muslimswho were led by Muhamed Kukuljac threatening openly to everyone. Therewas no plan to attack the Muslims.” 874After the investigation, the Pozarevac district prosecution filed a requestto the Pozarevac district court to start an investigation against suspectsNemanja Djuric, Aleksandar Stanojevic and Igor Babic 875 . Magistrate at thedistrict prosecution Dragan Vukicevic interrogated suspect Nemanja Djuricwho said: “on the critical night, I was asleep, I don’t know what happened,Goran Nikolic who was sleeping in the bed under mine woke up sayingthere was some fight. I saw Anis standing by the bed and there was nobodyholding anything in their hands nor wearing anything on their head…. Ihave never been involved in “beating with blankets” 876 . Suspect Igor Babicsaid he was asleep on the critical night because he had sound sleep and hefound out later from soldiers what had happened 877 .872 Basic Criminal Code, Article 134, item 2, see above under 586873 Ibid, Article 54, item 2874 Trial report, investigations from December 21 st , 2005, available in the Initiative’s documentation875 Trial report from April 19 th , 2006, available in the Initiative’s documentation876 Trial report from May 5 th , 2006, available in the Initiative’s documentation877 Trial report from May 18 th , 2006, available in the Initiative’s documentation160