Parliament adopts criminal procedure code changes

The Serbian parliament has adopted draft bill on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code which is expected to help the state combat hooligans and violence. 130 MPs of the ruling coalition and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) voted in favor of the draft. Parliament adopts criminal procedure code changes The new law enables longer detention for suspects who commit criminal acts with elements of violence for which the law envisages sentence longer than five years in prison. Therefore, it will be possible to extend detention from eight to 30 days. The draft was amended in an urgent procedure and it will come into effect a day after being published in the Official Gazette. The MPs have concluded that the new law will enable the authorities to fight against violence more efficiently. Justice Minister Snezana Malovic said that she agreed that it was not enough to only act repressively against hooligans and violence at sporting events and that she would support all proposals and programs that would contribute to decrease of violence. “This law will not stop the violence, but it would be a step forward in combat against violence,” she stressed. Opposition parties did not support the proposed changes while LDP voted in favor of the law after two of their amendments, which envisage detention only for criminal acts accompanied by violence, had been adopted. The draft bill on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code followed after violence over gay Pride Parade broke out in Belgrade and rioting of extreme Serbian supporters at Serbia-Italy football game in Genoa. Meanwhile, it was discussed whether Belgrade football derby between Red Star and Partizan should be played on Saturday bearing in mind recent incidents, but representatives of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), clubs and police decided to go ahead with the game in front of fans. The Serbian parliament (Beta, file)

Parliament adopts criminal procedure code changes

The new law enables longer detention for suspects who commit criminal acts with elements of violence for which the law envisages sentence longer than five years in prison. Therefore, it will be possible to extend detention from eight to 30 days.

The draft was amended in an urgent procedure and it will come into effect a day after being published in the Official Gazette.

The MPs have concluded that the new law will enable the authorities to fight against violence more efficiently.

Justice Minister Snežana Malović said that she agreed that it was not enough to only act repressively against hooligans and violence at sporting events and that she would support all proposals and programs that would contribute to decrease of violence.

“This law will not stop the violence, but it would be a step forward in combat against violence,” she stressed.

Opposition parties did not support the proposed changes while LDP voted in favor of the law after two of their amendments, which envisage detention only for criminal acts accompanied by violence, had been adopted.

The draft bill on amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code followed after violence over gay Pride Parade broke out in Belgrade and rioting of extreme Serbian supporters at Serbia-Italy football game in Genoa.

Meanwhile, it was discussed whether Belgrade football derby between Red Star and Partizan should be played on Saturday bearing in mind recent incidents, but representatives of the Football Association of Serbia (FSS), clubs and police decided to go ahead with the game in front of fans.