Attacks in the north, the Prosecution warns of indictments against two suspects

Over 30 attacks on journalists took place in 2023 during protests in the north of the country. A verdict was handed down this week in favor of one defendant for attacking a journalist. The Basic Prosecution in Mitrovica says it will file indictments soon for two defendants.

Nemanja Vlashkovic and Uros Vukashinovic are expected to soon face indictment for attacking journalists during the 2023 violent protests in the north, the Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica said in a response to KOHA.

The Basic Court in Mitrovica this week fined Dalibor Spasic, the attacker of journalist Burim Zariqi, 12 euros, a sentence that resulted from the approval of a plea agreement.

But, besides Spasić, which the Basic Prosecution Office in Mitrovica can now consider closed, two other cases are expected to be concluded with indictments soon. 

"Regarding the person with the initials NV, the investigations in this case have been completed and the indictment is expected to be filed soon. Meanwhile, we are concluding the investigations in the case where the defendant is the person with the initials UV," the Prosecution said.

The defense attorney for suspect Urosh Vukashinovic, attorney Nebojsa Vllajic, said that what remains for the defense is to comment after seeing what the prosecution will bring to court.

KOHA has also attempted to contact the defense attorney.  suspect Nemanja Vlashkovic, lawyer Predrag Milkovic, but he has not been accessible.

Previously, attorneys Milkovic and Vllajic stated in Serbian media that the prosecution has no evidence linking their clients to participating in the crowd or to attacks on journalists.

Vlashkovic and Vukashinovic were arrested in June 2023, on suspicion of attacking journalists in Leposavić during the June 16 protest, where media teams reporting in Albanian were attacked with kicks, stones, and explosive devices.