Serbian Bar Association President Supports Lawyers’ Strike

Veljko Delibasic (Photo: PrintScreen novas)

The president of the Bar Association of Serbia, Veljko Delibasic, stated on Dec. 4 that the meeting of the Association’s Steering Committee, to adopt a stance on the passing of the Law on the amendments and supplements to the Criminal Code and on the lawyers’ strike, had not yet been scheduled.

Delibasic told BETA that he supported the strike of the lawyers and that the meeting of the Steering Committee would be scheduled soon. “I am a member of the Bar Association of Belgrade and I abide by all the decisions of the Association’s organs and will therefore not be working in the next three days, either,” he stated and pointed out that he was unable to declare an opinion about the adoption of the amendments to the Criminal Code before the meeting of the Association’s Steering Committee.

Due to the fact that the amendments to the Criminal Code had been adopted without parliamentary debate, lawyers went on strike in Vojvodina, Belgrade, Zajecar, Leskovac, Nis, Kragujevac, Pozarevac and Cacak.

The president of the Bar Association of Belgrade, Momcilo Bulatovic, told BETA on Dec. 3 that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic should not sign the Law on the amendments and supplements to the Criminal Code. Bulatovic said it was impermissible for the Criminal Code to be amended without a debate in the parliament.