OSCE welcomes arrests, warns about role of media

The OSCE on Tuesday welcomed the arrests of suspects in the Ćuruvija murder case, but also warned about the role of the media in criminal proceedings.

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Tuesday, 14.01.2014.

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BELGRADE, VIENNA The OSCE on Tuesday welcomed the arrests of suspects in the Curuvija murder case, but also warned about the role of the media in criminal proceedings. Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia Ambassador Peter Burkhard welcomed the efforts of Serbian authorities to complete the investigation in the case of murdered journalist Slavko Curuvija and to bring the perpetrators to justice. OSCE welcomes arrests, warns about role of media But he at the same time urged respect for constitutional provisions and professional and ethical standards related to informing the public about police investigations and court proceedings. “The identity of potential suspects and information related to their expected arrests should not be revealed, nor should the media be used as a tool in criminal proceedings,” Burkhard added. “This practice, increasingly present in Serbian public discourse, can jeopardize investigations, compromise witnesses and their safety, and violate the right to a fair trial. The public has the right to be informed, including on criminal cases, but this should be done without violating constitutional rights or interfering with investigations or court proceedings," he noted. In a separate statement, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic today welcomed the arrests made in the case. “This is very good news. There must be no impunity for crimes committed against journalists. As we approach the 15th anniversary of Curuvija’s murder I am relieved that the investigation has identified a number of suspects including possible masterminds of this gruesome act,” Mijatovic said. Curuvija, the owner of Dnevni Telegraf newspaper and Evropljanin weekly magazine, was gunned down outside his home in Belgrade on April 11 1999. On Tuesday, two former state security officials were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder of Curuvija. “Today’s arrests show that progress is only possible when there is clear political will and commitment by the authorities,” Mijatovic said, adding that the commission on unsolved murders of Serbian journalists established by the government last year made a key contribution to today’s arrests. Mijatovic reminded that the killings of journalists Dada Vujasinovic in 1994 and Milan Pantic in 2001 remain unsolved and continue supporting the authorities and the commission to continue in the search for the truth and to bring all those responsible to justice. B92

OSCE welcomes arrests, warns about role of media

But he at the same time urged respect for constitutional provisions and professional and ethical standards related to informing the public about police investigations and court proceedings.

“The identity of potential suspects and information related to their expected arrests should not be revealed, nor should the media be used as a tool in criminal proceedings,” Burkhard added.

“This practice, increasingly present in Serbian public discourse, can jeopardize investigations, compromise witnesses and their safety, and violate the right to a fair trial. The public has the right to be informed, including on criminal cases, but this should be done without violating constitutional rights or interfering with investigations or court proceedings," he noted.

In a separate statement, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the arrests made in the case.

“This is very good news. There must be no impunity for crimes committed against journalists. As we approach the 15th anniversary of Ćuruvija’s murder I am relieved that the investigation has identified a number of suspects including possible masterminds of this gruesome act,” Mijatović said.

Ćuruvija, the owner of Dnevni Telegraf newspaper and Evropljanin weekly magazine, was gunned down outside his home in Belgrade on April 11 1999.

On Tuesday, two former state security officials were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder of Ćuruvija.

“Today’s arrests show that progress is only possible when there is clear political will and commitment by the authorities,” Mijatović said, adding that the commission on unsolved murders of Serbian journalists established by the government last year made a key contribution to today’s arrests.

Mijatović reminded that the killings of journalists Dada Vujasinović in 1994 and Milan Pantić in 2001 remain unsolved and continue supporting the authorities and the commission to continue in the search for the truth and to bring all those responsible to justice.

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