The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns the assault by a masked attacker on Ms. Svetlana Đorđević, which took place on the 27th June in her house in Vranje. She is the author of the book “Testimony on Kosovo”, which describes crimes that the police have committed in Kosovo during the war. She has been the subject of continuous intimidation since her appearance on the B92 television channel last year.The duty of the state is to protect Ms. Đorđević whose physical and psychological integrity is jeopardized. Special attention should be given to the fact that the attackers are identifying themselves as members of the dismissed Unit for Special Operations (JSO), just as they did in previous attacks on the members of the family of the late prime minister Đinđić.
The appearance of these attackers while criminal proceedings against some of the commanders of the former JSO, charged for several politically motivated murders, are going on is proof that there are still in this country criminal groups with political aspirations. The Belgrade Centre urges the Ministry of Internal Affairs to efficiently investigate and arrest the individuals responsible for such crimes. The need to protect our citizens is even greater if the crimes are committed by former or active police officers.
