Тhe Public Prosecution Office of the Republic of Serbia, from the first moments of the tragic event on the 1st November  of the last year in Novi Sad, with exceptional and dedicated professional attention approached the establishing of the facts in order to understand what really happened that day, and to initiate criminal proceduaral actions in order to determine the groundedness of existence the legally prescribed reasons for criminal prosecution of the responsible persons.

The Higher Public Prosecution Office in Novi Sad has devoted practically all of its human and material resources to this priority goal, planning to take all other cases into intensive work after the completion of the primary investigation into the death and serious injury of 17 persons.

More than fifteen public prosecutors and prosecutorial assistants participated in the investigation, who worked day and night, and I say this without exaggeration, for two months and with the selfless professional assistance of construction experts, establishing the evidentiary factual state, which resulted in the filing of the indictment against thirteen persons for criminal offenses for which the Public Prosecution Office believes to be responsible on the basis of established evidence, and whose actions led to the deaths of 15 persons.

On 30th December, the indictment was filed with the Higher Court in Novi Sad and we expect a response to be received soon, which, in our opinion, can only be positive in the form of confirming the indictment and scheduling the first main hearing, which should be public, all in accordance with the law and the legal framework which the Prosecution Office believes has been fully met in all elements of the indictment in question.

The Public Prosecution Office has been following from the first day with due attention the reaction of our society and the public to these events, especially understanding that the interest will grow stronger over time and in different phases of the criminal proceedings. However, in accordance with the law, we believe that attempts to break into judicial buildings, regardless of the passion on any side, cannot be acceptable, because the public prosecution offices and courts of our country belong to all citizens and no one can be deprived from  the acting of the prosecution when needed and justified by law.

Daily attacks on judicial institutions, especially physical blockades, only contributed to the delay in the work of the prosecutorial team in Novi Sad, which at that moment was finalizing the indictment and physically preparing 791 items of evidence on several thousands of pages of text for submission to the court.

However, the work continued professionally and in accordance with the interests of all citizens of Serbia, the result so far is known to everyone and we as the prosecution are proud of it.

From the first day of the students’ protests, the public prosecution offices have been closely monitoring these events, understanding the desire of young people to learn more. Unfortunately, in certain situations, unpleasant events occurred in which students were attacked and criminal acts were committed against them. All public prosecution offices reacted immediately in accordance with the law and issued appropriate requests and orders to police officers. We are sorry if in respect of some events the public believes that the reactions were delayed, and the public prosecution office must understand the criticism and accept the objection, and provide the public with timely and accurate information about the involvement of all possible capacities of the prosecution.

However, it is important to understand that crimes of physical violence do not expire quickly and that the prosecution of their perpetrators is certainly possible now and in the future.

Also, the Supreme Public Prosecution Office was ready to immediately talk to the students about their requests, which  it demonstrated on 25th December  of last year.

On that occasion, all the documentation that was available to the Higher Public Prosecution Office in Novi Sad was ready to be handed over to the students’ representatives, along with information on the proceedings that are being conducted against the students and professors who participated in the protests, as well as on the proceedings being conducted against the attackers of the students.

One of the important reasons for our conversation was to obtain information and data that we may not have or that are not known to us at all regarding the previously stated, in order to immediately further react against the perpetrators. Unfortunately, that opportunity was missed.

However, I will now repeat my invitation to the students’ representatives to come to the Supreme Public Prosecution Office where we shall talk on the grounds that I have outlined.

The essence of the dialogue we offer is not to convince, but to explain our actions in the course of time, as well as to fully understand the expectations of the students.

However, at this point, we believe that the students' first request for the publication of all available documentation regarding the works on the Novi Sad railway station, which constitutes the evidentiary material of the Public Prosecution, has been fulfilled by publishing the complete documentation on the website of the Higher Public Prosecution Office in Novi Sad.

It is important to note that in accordance with the decision of the President of the Republic of Serbia to pardon thirteen persons from criminal prosecution, and immediately upon its receipt, the acting public prosecution offices will immediately suspend any form of criminal prosecution against them, which will fully fulfill the second request of the protesting students.

The third request of the students regarding the identification and criminal prosecution of all attackers of students and professors during the protest has also been fulfilled, based on the reports of the acting prosecution offices. The public prosecution offices of our country have so far initiated criminal proceedings against 41 persons for attacks on students and professors, namely against 26 persons in Belgrade, 12 persons in Novi Sad, two persons in Šabac and 1 person in Vršac. However, we leave open the possibility that certain events and persons are unknown to us, and we invite students to help us in their identification.

On this occasion, I would like to inform our public about the following: the financial aspects of the operations of all economic entities that participated in the reconstruction of the canopy of the Novi Sad Railway Station are being closely examined. The reasons for conducting the investigation do not allow me to disclose details at this time, but rest assured that the public will be informed very soon about the results of our evidentiary actions that we are taking together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. All persons will be dealt with in accordance with the Constitution and criminal laws of the Republic of Serbia, without exception.

Finally, I would like to say that the Public Prosecution Office of our country is exactly that, the prosecution office that belongs to the public, i.e. to our people and others who live and work with us. Our only rules are the oath we have taken and the laws of our country. Rest assured that we will respect them and implement them to the end.

Public Relations Department

Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office