June 15, 2021
Milan Pantić, a correspondent of daily newspaper Večernje Novosti [Evening News], was murdered on 11th June 2001 in front of the entrance to the building where he lived, as a result of his investigation into the privatisation of the Novi Popovac cement factory, stated Veran Matić, president of the Commission for Investigating Murders of Journalists, speaking on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Pantić’s murder – one of three unsolved murders of journalists in Serbia over the last 30 years.
Matić also stated that new material evidence in connection with this murder exists, as well as that “it is clear that an organised criminal group, which includes politicians, is behind the crime”. Despite all of this, Cenzolovka was told by the Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime that they would not be taking over this case.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that the government has done its best to resolve this case, which is also why it engaged Matić, as the president of the Commission for the Investigating Murders of Journalists.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the murder of journalist colleague Pantić, and in light of the claim that new evidence exists in this case, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation called on the relevant institutions to “utilise all mechanisms within the scope of their authority and to bring to a conclusion as soon as possible this case that has already eluded justice for 20 years.”
