The Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office is investigating the pardon decisions made by Aleksandar Vučić before his presidency ended.
- Prosecutors requested documents related to 49 pardons signed by Vučić.
- Inquiry focuses on the initiation and justification of the pardons.
- Concerns raised about potential pardons for public officials under investigation.
The Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office has asked the Justice Ministry to hand over all available documents and correspondence related to the 49 pardons and decisions to discontinue criminal proceedings that Aleksandar Vučić said he signed before leaving the presidency.
According to the request sent on Friday, prosecutors want to determine whether the pardon process was launched by the ministry on its own initiative, without formal applications, and which people and cases were covered by the decisions. They also want to know whether any of the pardoned individuals were defendants in cases still pending before the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office or the Special Department for Organised Crime at the Belgrade Higher Court.
The ministry has been asked to provide all correspondence with the former president's office connected to the preparation of the pardon decisions, including the justice minister's formal decision to start the procedure and the reasoning behind it. Prosecutors also requested supporting documents and legal opinions from the relevant courts and public prosecutors on why the pardons were justified.
If the ministry does not have those records, the prosecution wants an explanation of why they were not prepared and how the pardon procedures were started and carried out. It has also asked for copies of the actual pardon decisions, if they are held by the ministry.
Vučić said on September 27, shortly before leaving office, that he had pardoned 49 people, without naming them. He said 23 of them were linked to events in Serbia over the previous 18 months, including 12 people from what he called the Novi Sad group and 11 people involved in attacks on protesters and road blockades.
His statement raised questions about whether the pardons also covered public officials facing criminal proceedings, including defendants in the investigation into the November 2024 Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse and the General Staff building case. Earlier this month, the Belgrade Higher Court and the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office told N1 that they had not received any pardon decisions concerning defendants in cases still under way before them.
The next step depends on whether the Justice Ministry submits the requested files and whether they confirm which cases were covered by the pardons.
Frequently asked questions
What is the purpose of the prosecutor's request?
The request aims to determine the legitimacy and process behind the 49 pardons issued by Vučić.
Who is involved in the pardon decisions?
The decisions involve individuals linked to various criminal cases, including public officials.
What documents are being requested from the Justice Ministry?
Prosecutors seek all correspondence, legal opinions, and the actual pardon decisions related to Vučić's actions.
