Trial of Milošević's son to begin

The trial of Marko Milosevic is to begin in Pozarevac this week on charges of assaulting Otpor member Nebojsa Sokolovic. Milosevic’s trial will begin on February 6 at the Pozarevac District Court, almost eight years after a clash between young members of the JUL (Yugoslav Associated Left) party led by Slobodan Milosevic’s wife Mira Markovic and the Otpor resistance movement ended with the accused allegedly assaulted Sokolovic. Trial of Milosevic's son to begin Locals are particularly disturbed that Milosevic will be tried in absentia. The trial has been brought on the basis of witness statements. Around six months ago, the witnesses to the incident repeated their claims in court, originally made in May 2000, according to which Milosevic personally assaulted the victim. Milorad Tadic, the owner of then opposition local radio station Boom93, was also badly beaten in the attack. “In my personal opinion, and time has shown this, the delay is a result of a strong JUL and Socialist Party of Serbia lobby within the justice system, who have continued working there. I’m talking about the Pozarevac courts in particular,” said Sokolovic. Fellow Otpor member Momcilo Veljkovic, who was also beaten on May 2, 2000, after which he spent two and a half months in custody, believes that it is no coincidence that the trial is to begin only after the news has been made public that Milosevic and Markovic have received asylum in Russia. “The whole Pozarevac justice system has attempted in all kinds of ways to avoid a trial, but, because of public pressure and our letter to Justice Minister Dusan Petrovic and his ministry, where we listed all the courts’ mistakes, Judge Gordana Vidojkovic has finally called a hearing,” said Veljkovic. At the trial, Slobodan Milosevic’s son will stand accused of causing grievous bodily harm to Sokolovic. To recap, Special Prosecutor Miljko Radisavljevic recently stated that the investigation into a group of suspected cigarette smugglers, led by Milosevic and his mother Markovic would soon be complete. Markovic is accused of coercing government employees into illegally allocating a flat to a nanny that had looked after her grandson, Marko. An international warrant has been issued for her arrest. Having received refugee status in Russia, neither of them are obliged to answer the court’s summons.

Trial of Milošević's son to begin

Locals are particularly disturbed that Milošević will be tried in absentia.

The trial has been brought on the basis of witness statements. Around six months ago, the witnesses to the incident repeated their claims in court, originally made in May 2000, according to which Milošević personally assaulted the victim.

Milorad Tadić, the owner of then opposition local radio station Boom93, was also badly beaten in the attack.

“In my personal opinion, and time has shown this, the delay is a result of a strong JUL and Socialist Party of Serbia lobby within the justice system, who have continued working there. I’m talking about the Požarevac courts in particular,” said Sokolović.

Fellow Otpor member Momčilo Veljković, who was also beaten on May 2, 2000, after which he spent two and a half months in custody, believes that it is no coincidence that the trial is to begin only after the news has been made public that Milošević and Marković have received asylum in Russia.

“The whole Požarevac justice system has attempted in all kinds of ways to avoid a trial, but, because of public pressure and our letter to Justice Minister Dušan Petrović and his ministry, where we listed all the courts’ mistakes, Judge Gordana Vidojković has finally called a hearing,” said Veljković.

At the trial, Slobodan Milošević’s son will stand accused of causing grievous bodily harm to Sokolović.

To recap, Special Prosecutor Miljko Radisavljević recently stated that the investigation into a group of suspected cigarette smugglers, led by Milošević and his mother Marković would soon be complete.

Marković is accused of coercing government employees into illegally allocating a flat to a nanny that had looked after her grandson, Marko. An international warrant has been issued for her arrest.

Having received refugee status in Russia, neither of them are obliged to answer the court’s summons.