Desir: The exceptionally important decision of the Higher Court, the crime has to be punished

“It is of the utmost importance that all those involved in this heinous crime do not go unpunished,” says Harlem Desir, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in the statement for Cenzolovka, adding that his Office will closely follow the trial that will start on 7 July at the Court of Appeals.

Foto: Flickr / Parti socialiste

In the statement for Cenzolovka, Harlem Desir, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, reminds that in the April of last year he has welcomed the decision of the High Court in Belgrade, sentencing former state security officials for organizing and taking part in the murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija on 11 April 1999.

In April of 2019, Desir has welcomed the verdict of the Department for Organized Crime of the High Court in Belgrade, which has convicted four former State Security members to a total of 100 years in prison, calling it historic.

“Impunity must not prevail, even 20 years after, and that is why the decision of the High Court in 2019 was important,” said Desir.

“My Office will be closely following the procedure in the second instance that will start on 7 July at the Court of Appeals in Belgrade. It is of the utmost importance that all those involved in this heinous crime do not go unpunished. All crimes against media professionals need to be fully investigated,” said Harlem Desir for Cenzolovka.