Representatives of journalists’ associations and political parties reacted almost unanimously to the Appeals Court’s acquittals in the case of the murder of journalist, editor and newspaper publisher Slavko Curuvija, expressing their dissatisfaction.
The Association of Serbia’s Journalists (UNS) assessed that the Belgrade Appeals Court’s acquittal in the case of Curuvija’s murder demonstrates the Serbian judiciary’s institutional powerlessness.
President of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) Zeljko Bodrozic said the acquittal is yet another indicator that the state had obstructed the investigation from day one, and that it never had any intention of shedding light on this murder.
“I am shocked, saddened and angry because we live in a country that for 25 years has not been able to solve the brutal murder of a well-known journalist and editor. It was clear from the very act of murder that the state, that is, the secret police, committed this crime and that this very state did everything to cover up the case and prevent an investigation,” Bodrozic told N1.
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) President Maja Sever said in a post on X that the acquittal of those accused of the murder of Slavko Curuvija “is a terrible sign to journalists and the media, but also to democracy.”
“This is a complete breakdown of the system that sends the message that the murder of journalists remains unpunished,” Sever wrote.
Democratic Party leader Zoran Lutovac believes that the verdict that has been handed down says that Curuvija was murdered in accordance with the regulations. “The darkness is thicker than ever,” he said in a post on X.
The leader of the Movement of Free Citizens, Pavle Grbovic, said the court’s decision sends out a message to “all those who think differently.”
Veran Matic, the head of Serbia’s Commission for Investigation of Journalists’ Murders, said this is a very sad day when it comes to impunity for murders of journalists, in Serbia, Europe and the world.
“This is a serious defeat for the Serbian society and for the political resolve to punish violence against journalists. Despite the fact that this political will was demonstrated through the establishment of the Commission for Investigation of Journalists’ Murders, and effective investigative work and indictment, the enormous effort was annulled by the decision of the judges who obviously did not understand their historical role,” said Matic.
Historian and Curuvija’s life partner Branka Prpa told Nova.rs that this is a “catastrophic decision,” that the state covered up the case all along and that “everything was a farce from the beginning.” She said that, at the beginning of his term in office, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic “swore that the murder would be solved,” and noted that she never believed him.
Slavko Curuvija’s daughter Jelena Curuvija said she is “shocked by this scandalous verdict.”
“It sends a clear, horrifying message to all journalists and all people who fight for freedom of speech. This verdict is proof that the dark forces of the 1990s still rule this country. This is a country of darkness. I am speechless,” she said.
The Court of Appeals in Belgrade published its verdict, passed almost ten months ago, freeing four former senior State Security Service (RDB) officers of responsibility for the assassination of newspaper publisher Slavko Curuvija. The court ruled to acquit RDB chief Radomir Markovic and his subordinates, Milan Radonjic, Miroslav Kurak and Ratko Romic.
In 2019 a Belgrade court sentenced the four former secret police officers to a total of 100 years in prison for the murder of Curuvija.
Slavko Curuvija was gunned down in front of his apartment building on April 11, 1999.