Vojvodina Bar Association to stop activities due to systematic meddling of executive powers in judiciary’s operations

The Vojvodina Bar Association has announced that it will stop its activities on Wednesday, November 27, due to, among other things, the systematic and long-standing meddling of the executive powers in the operations of the judiciary and the dramatic violation of the independence of the court system, the legally unfounded preparation of amendments to the criminal legislature and the frivolous application of repressive measures against certain participants in the protests related to the tragedy at the Novi Sad Rail Station etc.

As announced after the session of the Management Board of the Vojvodina Bas Association, held on November 22, 2024, the following positions are taken and conclusions made pointing to:

– the systematic and long-standing meddling of the executive powers in the operations of the judiciary and the dramatic violation of the independence of the court system, the independence of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the balance in the distribution of power;

– the legally unfounded preparation of amendments to the criminal legislature which would lead to a change in the basic principles of criminal procedures, a further violation of the citizens’ freedoms and rights and a negative influencing of the courts’ unbiased operations;

– the removal of the rights of lawyers to perform their activities to the full extent and unconditionally in the procedures at the RGA – Real Estate Cadaster Office;

– the frivolous application of repressive measures against certain participants in the protests related to the tragedy at the Novi Sad Rail Station and the obvious lack of such measures against the minority which resorted to open violence at the protest.

Considering the adopted conclusions and positions, the Management Board of the Vojvodina Bar Association has adopted the decision on the stopping of the activities of the members of the Bar Association, which entails that, on November 27, all members not act at courts and other state organs, except in procedures in which, on that date, decisions are made on the incarceration of citizens and in the procedures toward underage perpetrators of criminal acts.

– During the suspension of the operations, the members of the Vojvodina Bar Association are allowed to prepare submission if the date of the suspension is at the same time the final date of the preclusive deadline for the filing of those submissions – it was announced in the decision of November 22, for which it is said that it comes into effect immediately, with the placement on the Vojvodina Bar Association bulletin board.

The announcement was signed by Vladimir Beljanski, the president of the Vojvodina Bar Association.

Advokatska komora Vojvodine

Republički geodetski zavod Beograd

Novi Sad Rail Station

RGA

Real Estate Cadaster Office

suspension of activities of Vojvodina Bar Association

executive power

court independence

Public Prosecutors Office