The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed alarm at the ruling of the Serbian Supreme Court on the shortcomings in the Curuvija murder case adding that justice remains elusive.
The Supreme Court said that a number of shortcomings happened at the trial of 4 state security personnel found guilty of killing newspaper publisher Slavko Curuvija in 1999. Curuvija was gunned down by state security agents during the NATO air campaign of 1999 after a regime-controlled newspaper called him a traitor. He published an opposition-oriented newspaper and magazine.
“The International Press Institute (IPI) today expresses alarm over the ruling of the Supreme Court in Serbia identifying serious legal shortcomings in the decision which overturned guilty verdicts over the killing of Serbian editor and publisher Slavko Ćuruvija, and regrets that the prospect of justice remains painfully elusive,” a press release said recalling that a ruling by the Belgrade Appeals Court overturned the guilty verdicts.
“While the ruling undermines elements of the Court of Appeal’s verdict, IPI notes that it does not overturn or alter the final instance verdict, which is conclusive. The result is that the murder case remains in a state of total impunity. Twenty-seven years have now passed since Curuvija was murdered. IPI remains committed to the fight for justice and expresses our continued solidarity with Curuvija’s family,” the press release said.
Source: N1
