January 31, 2021
With the court having rejected a request to dismiss judge Slavko Žugić, who is leading the trial against those accused of firebombing the house of Žig Info portal journalist Milan Jovanović, defence lawyers have also requested the dismissal of the president of the Second Basic Court and the High Court in Belgrade.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever see the end of this trial. Their aim isn’t to prove their innocence, because they’re aware that they can’t defend the indefensible. Their goal is for this court procedure not to end,” Cenzolovka was told by Jovanović, whose house burned down as a result of the arson attack in December 2018.
His lawyer, Ana Matić, nonetheless expects a verdict to be brought in February and that “the evidence will unequivocally condemn the defendants”.
Reporters Without Borders dubbed the defence lawyers’ incessant demands absurd and called for the proceedings to be concluded immediately.