Prosecutor's office: Traffic blockades contrary to Serbian laws, Constitution

BELGRADE - The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade said on Wednesday traffic blockades were contrary to the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Serbia and that, as a result, authorities, above all, police officers, were authorised to react to such anti-constitutional and unlawful actions by some citizens.

To ensure appropriate public information and clarify any uncertainties regarding its own authority and the authority of the police in terms of actions taken regarding the traffic blockades, which began on June 29 and have been the scenes of numerous incidents whose perpetrators have been causing conflict situations and committing misdemeanour as well as criminal offences, the Prosecutor's Office noted that, under the Law on the Police, police affairs included activities aimed at protecting the lives, rights and freedoms of the citizens, protection of property and support for rule of law, maintaining public peace and order, preventing crime and maintaining security in the community, uncovering and shedding light on misdemeanour and criminal offences and arresting the perpetrators.

"Police officers take these actions completely independently and need no prior consultation with misdemeanour court judges or a public prosecutor's office," the Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.

In view of the above, including attacks on police officers that have occurred in the past days and other incidents, the Prosecutor's Office noted that the police had not overstepped their authority or used inappropriate force.