25.06.2023.
Communique
After another petty-political statement of the Military Union of Serbia intended to undermine the reputation of the Serbian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence communicates that the fact finding proceeding and further actions with respect to the cases where tragic loss of life of our members occurred, are, in accordance with the law, within the purview of the judicial bodies of the Republic of Serbia.
We draw attention of the public to the fact that the latest public appeal of the Military Union for the establishment of an “independent state commission” that would, allegedly investigate the circumstances of deaths of members of the Serbian Armed Forces over the past years, and other supposed “misuse” in the system of defence, is nothing else but a futile petty-political attempt to gain media attention.
The proposal of the so-called union-men to make their representative a part of that parainstitutional “independent” body, is their way to say that their “knowledge” and “honesty” are a factor that would contribute to shedding light on given cases and be decisive for the observance of law.
It is clear even to those with superficial knowledge of law that the circumstances and facts of the establishment of causes of tragedies of our colleagues and their families are within the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor’s Office, which is solely authorised to inform the public regarding the matter. As the public is aware, in cases of the loss of live of members of the MoD and SAF, the Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces acted in accordance with their own and authorities grounded in the law, and they always, fully and timely cooperated with the responsible Prosecutor.
The Ministry of Defence and Serbian Armed Forces place their full confidence in judicial bodies of our country, and condemn every attempt to exert pressure on the independence and objectivity of the work of prosecutors and judges, which is precisely what the Military Union does in its public appearances, apart from constant attempts to tarnish the reputation of our Serbian Armed Forces.
We believe that the Military Union disregarded its primary role long time ago - to fight for the rights and better working conditions of MoD and SAF members - in favour of pursuing political ambitions of their leaders.
