"Those fighting in foreign wars have 10 days to return"

The announced changes to the Criminal Code on participation of Serbian citizens in wars in abroad will not be applied retroactively, says Meho Omerović.

Izvor: B92

Wednesday, 08.10.2014.

12:41

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"Those fighting in foreign wars have 10 days to return"

The amendments in question criminalize recruitment and participation in wars or armed conflicts in a foreign country.

"All citizens of Serbia who are currently either in Syria or in Ukraine, have about ten days to return. When these changes come into force, if they do not return, they will be committing a criminal offense, " Omerović explained.

If found guilty, they could be sent to jail from six months to five years, while committing a more severe form of this crime, participation in a group, could see them imprisoned from one to eight years.

As for those organizing the departure of Serbian citizens to join wars abroad, if put on trial and found guilty they would face imprisonment of two to ten years.

Omerović also said that these amendments to the Criminal Code "would not apply to our members in peacekeeping missions that participate under applicable laws and international conventions."

According to him, some 40 citizens of Serbia are currently fighting in foreign battlefields.

"With these changes we are introducing two new offenses that until now did not exist. These people could not be prosecuted under the Law on Organized Crime and Terrorism because it is not terrorism if someone wants to go to war or recruits others," says Omerović.

He believes that the adoption of the law alone will have effects, and that those who are perhaps considering joining a war will now have second thoughts.

Omerović added that in this way "Serbia wants to act preventively, and stop someone from going to war."

"We had a situation where young Bosniaks (Muslims) were recruited to go to Syria, then we had individuals go to Ukraine, tomorrow there will be a new battlefield. In order to prevent it, these changes are necessary,," concluded Omerović.

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