Defiant former mayor “not through with politics”

Former Zrenjanin Mayor Goran Knezevic says his further engagement in the ruling Democrats (DS) would be "torture", but that he is "not through with politics". The former mayor of the Vojvodina town was indicted for fraud and was recently released from prison pending the end of his trial. Defiant former mayor “not through with politics” “I have not said my final word in politics, and I will decide what I will do after a serious analysis of the overall situation,” he told Belgade daily Danas. Knezevic was also formerly at the helm of the DS provincial committee. Now, he believes that a return to the party would give legitimacy to some of its bad moves. “I don’t have any negative emotions towards DS, especially towards a large number of party members that are still my friends. After the abuse of state institutions and media for a simulated fight against corruption and crime – of which my family was the greatest victim, along with my friends and my city – I believe that my further work in the party would be tantamount to extreme masochism,” he said. Knezevic said that political forces in Vojvodina, which the daily describes as "independistas", are most responsible for his persecution, along with “people who saw political gain in my downfall”. Commenting on the Vojvodina statute draft, he said that the document is “cosmetically fixed, but is still poor in essence”. "I would like to especially point out that it brings no good solutions, not only when it comes to Serbia, which is most often mentioned in the criticism, but also for Vojvodina, for the residents of Pancevo, Vrsac, Kikinda, Subotica." Knezevic spent a total of 13 months in prison. The Special Organized Crime Prosecution indicted him with forming a criminal enterprise and abuse of office. The trial is currently underway.

Defiant former mayor “not through with politics”

“I have not said my final word in politics, and I will decide what I will do after a serious analysis of the overall situation,” he told Belgade daily Danas.

Knežević was also formerly at the helm of the DS provincial committee. Now, he believes that a return to the party would give legitimacy to some of its bad moves.

“I don’t have any negative emotions towards DS, especially towards a large number of party members that are still my friends. After the abuse of state institutions and media for a simulated fight against corruption and crime – of which my family was the greatest victim, along with my friends and my city – I believe that my further work in the party would be tantamount to extreme masochism,” he said.

Knežević said that political forces in Vojvodina, which the daily describes as "independistas", are most responsible for his persecution, along with “people who saw political gain in my downfall”.

Commenting on the Vojvodina statute draft, he said that the document is “cosmetically fixed, but is still poor in essence”.

"I would like to especially point out that it brings no good solutions, not only when it comes to Serbia, which is most often mentioned in the criticism, but also for Vojvodina, for the residents of Pančevo, Vršac, Kikinda, Subotica."

Knežević spent a total of 13 months in prison. The Special Organized Crime Prosecution indicted him with forming a criminal enterprise and abuse of office. The trial is currently underway.