TESTIMONY OF THE PROSECUTOR WHOSE VEHICLE WAS SET ON FIRE: I fear for the safety of myself and my family!

Aleksandra Stojsavljević, the public prosecutor of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Subotica, whose car was set on fire in front of the building where she lives on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, told “Nova” that she feels disturbed after everything that happened to her, and that she fears for her personal safety, as well as the safety of her family.

In a conversation with “Nova,” she recounted what happened early in the morning on December 10, when the police knocked on her door around 4 a.m.

“They asked me if I was the owner of a car with specific license plates, and after I confirmed, they told me that the vehicle was on fire and that they, along with the firefighters, had come following a call from citizens who noticed the fire. I immediately went downstairs with them in front of the building and confirmed that it was my car,” prosecutor Stojsavljević begins her story for Nova.rs.

She says that after the initial shock, another one followed when she realized that the vehicle was most likely intentionally set on fire.

“I am not in conflict with anyone, neither professionally nor privately, nor has anyone threatened me, so the very fact that someone intentionally set my car on fire was additionally unbelievable and surprising for me. When the fire was extinguished and when I composed myself a little, I started thinking about who and why might be behind the arson,” says prosecutor Stojsavljević.

She adds that she would not publicly discuss potential motives and details of the procedure that has since been initiated regarding the deliberate burning of her car, so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

At the same time, she confirmed the claims that appeared earlier in the media that yesterday, a few hours after her car was set on fire, she was supposed to conduct a hearing of the injured party in the investigative procedure she was leading in the case of his assault.

“After everything that happened, I can say that I feel that my safety is threatened, both my personal safety and that of my family. The event has also disturbed other colleagues from the prosecutor’s office and the court who also no longer feel safe,” the prosecutor added.

She notes that the support she received from colleagues is invaluable at this moment, both in the letter of support from the collegium of her prosecutor’s office in Subotica and across the country, especially those gathered in the informal group “Let’s Defend the Profession.”

“I must mention that on the same day, I was contacted, expressing solidarity and offering support, by the President of the High Prosecutorial Council, Branko Stamenković, as well as the Supreme Public Prosecutor, Zagorka Dolovac, who told me that she would do everything in her power to ensure the safety of my family and me as soon as possible. Personally, I also have the impression that security is necessary for me at this moment, especially because of my family,” prosecutor Stojsavljević added, noting that no one from the Ministry of Justice, however, had contacted her.

“I also received support from my fellow citizens, and on Saturday at 12 o’clock, a professional gathering will be held in the form of support and expression of dissatisfaction with this and similar events. Silence cannot and must not be maintained regarding such events,” prosecutor Stojsavljević added.

Let us recall that the Academic Plenum assessed earlier today that the burning of the car belonging to prosecutor Aleksandra Stojsavljević in Subotica, after she acted in the case of the attack on activist Dražen Lončar, represents a clear act of intimidation and an open message that violence is replacing institutions.

“This is no longer an isolated incident. This is a pattern. An activist was beaten for speaking out. A prosecutor was attacked for doing her job. That is the definition of the collapse of the rule of law,” the Academic Plenum announced.

The Plenum demands the urgent discovery of not only the perpetrators but also those who ordered the attack, emphasizing that the Mayor of Subotica, Stevan Bakić – if he “knew how to insult the deans of Subotica faculties,” should provide all operational information to the competent authorities.

“The academic community will not remain silent in the face of Serbia turning into a space where the truth is punished, and the law is burned,” the Academic Plenum stated.

Regarding the event, the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office of Serbia also issued a statement yesterday.

“The Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office strongly condemns the attack on the public prosecutor of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Subotica, Aleksandra Stojsavljević, by setting fire to and thereby destroying her passenger motor vehicle in the immediate vicinity of her residence, which occurred this morning,” the statement said.

According to the SPIO, the attack followed immediately after the public prosecutor performed her official duty by questioning the suspects in the case of physical attack and infliction of bodily harm on the injured party in Subotica, which is why the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office reasonably suspects that one of the criminal offenses against state bodies or the judiciary has been committed to the detriment of the public prosecutor.

They add that this attack is happening at a time when the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Serbia is suffering extreme and unprecedented attempts at inappropriate influence on its work through constant attacks in some information media and statements by certain officials of the executive and legislative authorities, as well as a part of society that is clearly opposing the lawful work of the public prosecutor’s office.

TESTIMONY OF THE PROSECUTOR WHOSE VEHICLE WAS SET ON FIRE: I fear for the safety of myself and my family!

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