Opposition leader's attacker stays silent

Dejan Stojadinovic, who attacked opposition New Serbia (NS) party leader Velimir Ilic on Friday, refused to make any statement when questioned by police. This is according to Serbian police (MUP) Director Milorad Veljovic, who spoke in Belgrade on Tuesday. Opposition leader's attacker stays silent Veljovic said at the meeting of the Parliamentary Security Committee that Stojadinovic will be charged with violent behavior at a public gathering. “Stojadinovic defended himself with silence at the police station,” Veljovic said, while briefing the committee on the details of the investigation against assailant. In 2002, the suspect was charged with causing bodily harm to an individual and three years later for disturbing the peace and public order. “There was also a warrant out for his arrest for avoiding military service,” Veljovic said, adding that the suspect worked in Crete, Greece, between 2007 and 2009 as a bartender. The day before the attack, Stojadinovic submitted a request for a new passport, which was when it was confirmed that he had a warrant out for his arrest. During the search of Stojadinovic’s apartment, police did not find anything that correlates with the attack on Ilic, Veljovic said. “Police are following the group supporting Stojadinovic on Facebook and all the reports are being filed to the prosecution,” the police chief said, adding that police are actively working on finding the persons that injured a police officer during the incident. Stojadinovic struck Ilic in the face on Friday at a New Serbia open-air campaign in downtown Belgrade. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic condemned the attack and said that violence must be rooted out of Serbia, adding that the ministry is doing everything it can to protect the people and public figures in Serbia. “Our obligation is to do everything in making sure that the level of security is high,” Dacic said at the committee meeting. Police will protect all MPs and some public figures will be allowed to have personal protection according to evaluations of their security. “Velimir Ilic has received a license to carry a weapon from us,” Dacic said.

Opposition leader's attacker stays silent

Veljović said at the meeting of the Parliamentary Security Committee that Stojadinović will be charged with violent behavior at a public gathering.

“Stojadinović defended himself with silence at the police station,” Veljović said, while briefing the committee on the details of the investigation against assailant.

In 2002, the suspect was charged with causing bodily harm to an individual and three years later for disturbing the peace and public order.

“There was also a warrant out for his arrest for avoiding military service,” Veljović said, adding that the suspect worked in Crete, Greece, between 2007 and 2009 as a bartender.

The day before the attack, Stojadinović submitted a request for a new passport, which was when it was confirmed that he had a warrant out for his arrest.

During the search of Stojadinović’s apartment, police did not find anything that correlates with the attack on Ilić, Veljović said.

“Police are following the group supporting Stojadinović on Facebook and all the reports are being filed to the prosecution,” the police chief said, adding that police are actively working on finding the persons that injured a police officer during the incident.

Stojadinović struck Ilić in the face on Friday at a New Serbia open-air campaign in downtown Belgrade.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić condemned the attack and said that violence must be rooted out of Serbia, adding that the ministry is doing everything it can to protect the people and public figures in Serbia.

“Our obligation is to do everything in making sure that the level of security is high,” Dačić said at the committee meeting.

Police will protect all MPs and some public figures will be allowed to have personal protection according to evaluations of their security.

“Velimir Ilić has received a license to carry a weapon from us,” Dačić said.