23. 07. 2003

Supreme Court upholds Svedok appeal

BELGRADE, 23 July, 2003 -- The Supreme Court of Serbia has overturned a decision to ban an issue of Belgrade weekly Svedok that carried an alleged interview with the main suspect in the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. On June 5, the District Court imposed a ban on the distribution and sale of Issue No. 358, which contained an interview with Milorad "Legija" Lukovic apparently given to a Macedonian newspaper of the same name. A statement from Svedok said that the Supreme Court had found "serious violations of the Criminal Procedures Act" for reasons that are "unclear and contradictory." The Supreme Court has rescinded the court decision and the case will be returned to the district court for new proceedings. A new hearing before the Belgrade District Court is scheduled for July 24, at 10.30am.