Uroš Blažić (22), who was sentenced on December 12 by the Higher Court in Smederevo to 20 years in prison for the mass killings in the villages of Dubona and Malo Orašje, reported being attacked in the District Prison in Smederevo, prompting him to go on a three-day hunger strike, Kurir has learned.
The Administration for the Enforcement of Criminal Sanctions (UIKS) issued a statement regarding Blažić’s claims. They noted that the detainee U.B. stated on Sunday, December 15, that he had been assaulted, and on Monday, December 16, declared that he was refusing prison food.
“However, he did not provide a written explanation for why he was refusing prison food. The prison administration immediately took all necessary measures, including arranging a medical examination for him. He resumed eating prison food on Thursday, December 19, and during this time, he was examined by a doctor multiple times as part of the standard procedure for detainees refusing food prepared in the institution,” UIKS stated.
They added that the case was discussed with the judge overseeing the execution of the sentence at the Higher Court in Smederevo, as the prison administration promptly informed the judge about all allegations.
“On December 26, the prison administration submitted all medical reports, other material evidence, video recordings, and official notes to the judge overseeing the case,” the UIKS statement added.
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Blažić reported the assault just four days after being sentenced to the maximum prison term for killing nine people and wounding 12 others on May 4, 2023, in villages near Mladenovac and Smederevo using a Kalashnikov rifle and a pistol, as confirmed by the court and admitted by Blažić himself.
“This might be part of his strategy and manipulation. It is being investigated whether he was truly attacked, but it appears to be part of his attempt to portray himself as a victim, which he certainly is not,” a Kurir source stated.
It is worth noting that Blažić previously got into a physical altercation with a cellmate, although they stopped the fight themselves and called the guards. He was subsequently transferred to another cell.
“They slapped each other, with the first slap delivered by the other man in the cell, and Blažić retaliated. Blažić was not injured, while the other detainee sustained a bruise under his eye,” the source recalled.
Following that incident, Blažić was punished with a disciplinary measure limiting family visits.
“On June 29, 2023, the investigative judge of the Higher Court in Smederevo issued a ruling imposing a disciplinary measure on Uroš Blažić, restricting family visits on July 14 and July 21. This decision was made in connection with the incident on June 17 in the detention unit of the District Prison in Smederevo, which began as a verbal altercation and escalated to physical conflict between detainees J.S. and Uroš Blažić,” the Higher Court in Smederevo stated at the time.
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Izvor: Kurir, Foto: Nenad Kostić