Violence will not be tolerated at March 15 protest - Higher Public Prosecutor's Office

BELGRADE - Ahead of a protest announced for March 15, the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade on Thursday appealed to all protesters and other citizens to comply with regulations on public peace and order and exercise their right to peaceful assembly in line with the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Serbia.

"Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly but violence will not be tolerated and those who resort to it - both those who perhaps attack participants of peaceful protests and those who perhaps use violence against other people, police officers and representatives of state authorities - will be prosecuted in line with the law," it said in a statement.

It also said that, as during previous protest gatherings, Serbian police would "take all measures and actions within their competence to ensure the announced protest gathering passes in a peaceful and dignified manner without threats to public peace and order, with a view to protecting the property, physical integrity and peacefulness of all citizens."

The Prosecutor's Office also noted that violating the provisions of the Law on Public Order and Peace implied misdemeanor accountability and even criminal accountability in case of criminal offences committed at a public gathering.