Freedom for Novi Sad activists

photos: private archive

While this text is being written, it is expected that the High Court in Novi Sad will decide whether, at the request of the lawyer, evidence that cannot be used in the criminal proceedings will be removed from the court files, and it is being conducted against a group of Novi Sad activists which are a little less than a month ago in the justice of God arrested and detained on the charge of preparing a "coup d'état". Regardless of the decision, the matter is clear: the state does not have a single valid proof that the detainees from the Movement of Free Citizens and the student organization "Stav" had terrorist intentions, that is, that they planned to overthrow the constitutional order, which is suspected.

It would therefore be logical and fair to expect the six detainees to be promptly released from detention, which is located in the Novi Sad suburb of Klisi and is known for its inhumane living conditions and cannibalistic bedbugs. However, logic and justice do not reside in Serbia, so it is not impossible that the detention will not be abolished, or even extended, despite the tragic irony of the process. Basically, if the detainees are not released soon, it is a sure sign that we are headed for Belarus.

There is no doubt that these are political prisoners. Their guilt consists in the fact that they allowed the BIA or whoever "recorded" (most likely illegally) their conversation a few days before the big rally in Belgrade held on March 15. Then, the regime televisions made a real sensation out of that conversation, which looks like a bar chatter. It came to them like an ace in ten, to confirm the claims that the students and citizens who have been demonstrating for months all over Serbia are actually terrorists who want to come to power by force.

The prosecutor leading the proceedings is called Slobodan Josimović. Look at the miracles, he also leads the "Canopy" course. His goal, some claim, is to hide many more things than reveal them during the process for the Novi Sad tragedy. That the state in the case of the so-called The Novi Sad group's problem with evidence is clearly indicated by the fact that the prosecutor prevented the defense attorneys from accessing evidence for a long time. In the end, they were granted access, but the key part was declared "top secret" material. The fact that it is "strictly confidential" is exactly what the citizens of Serbia had the opportunity to hear on television with a national frequency.

Legal experts say that, even if by some miracle it was made in accordance with the law, the video cannot be used in criminal proceedings. That would not be in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Law. Namely, an audio-recording in criminal proceedings can only be relevant if serious procedures are followed, given that the possibilities of abuse and manipulation are very high.

"Vreme" presents Vučić's political prisoners, who in the regime's media appeared to be more dangerous than Al-Shabaab bombers or some other prominent terrorist organization.

MARIJA VASIC

Professor Zmaj Jovina Gymnasium Marija Vasić did not need a party engagement to become popular: the whole of Novi Sad has known her for a long time, at least the one who upholds human and civil rights and resists totalitarian ideologies and evil. One of the million paradoxes of Vučić's Serbia is the fact that Marija, a woman who has dedicated her whole life to the fight against violence and terror, has been in custody for almost a month, suspected of terrorist intentions, of violently subverting the constitutional order.

She wrote two books about fascist crimes in Novi Sad during the Second World War, gave numerous lectures about the Novi Sad raid. She participated in various civil protests all these years. Her battle is also a battle against forgetting, she always said: what is forgotten threatens to be repeated! It could be said that her case is proof of the accuracy of this statement.

She is one of the protagonists of Aleksandar Reljić's documentary film "Novosadsko sećenje". This film, which was shown throughout the former Yugoslavia, is based on her books and research. It is precisely the memory of the Novi Sad raid, i.e. the memory of the mass fascist liquidation of Serbs, Jews and Roma in January 1942.

Maria is adored by the students, both those whom she currently teaches, and those who are studying, as well as those who have already become "their own people". University professors say that her students are easy to recognize when they come to study. Not only do they have an excellent knowledge of sociology and other social sciences, but they also have a strong sense of justice. It could be said that her party involvement in the PSG could only harm her image in a state where parties themselves are notorious. She was aware of that risk, but still decided to enter party life, wanting to expand the field of struggle for the promotion of her ideas.

Her husband, David Trnavac, works in Belgrade and travels to work every day. We find him in the evening, after returning from work, preparing food for the family, their two dogs, but also for Maria, for her sons to take to Klisa the next day. Maria has two sons, Milan and Mihailo. Besides them, her mother also visits her. David hadn't seen her since he was in custody, he didn't want to waive his right to testify if there was a court case. That was a condition of the visit. He says it's illegal and pointless, but everything else in this case is also illegal and pointless.

"Marija is holding herself well. She is in a good mood, reads, writes, even teaches some classes about raids in detention. She can't do without it. And the rest of us somehow 'handle' things. It's hard, but it's easier when we know, and we know, why she was arrested, and what all this is for, and that she is absolutely innocent," Trnavac told "Vreme".

David says that Maria is such a character that detention will only strengthen her belief that it is necessary to fight for change. She was ready for something similar, she knew very well who was "on the other side".

"When they came to take her away, they first called on the phone. Like, they needed to talk to her. And then they immediately arrested her. There was no need for that circus, she would have gone to the police station by herself. When they were taking her away, she said: 'Given what our country is like, it's actually an honor to be arrested!'" says Trnavac.

David points out that everyone is proud of her, and counting the days until she returns home. "Friends, relatives, her current and former students, they all call constantly. And ask - is there anything new! Unfortunately, time passes, and we have no new information. They are worried and support us, that means a lot", says Trnavac.

LAZAR DINIĆ

"I think the biggest 'success' of this government is that it got us used to abnormality," said Lazar Dinić, an activist of the Novi Sad student movement "Stav", in an interview for "Vreme", around the end of September last year. The activists of "Stava", in addition to the Belgrade organization "Sviće", are, so to speak, the pioneers of the general student rebellion, which - realistically speaking - no one could have hoped for even a few days before it "broke out", let alone months ago. Dinić is one of the students who raised his voice against the authoritarian regime before, he was against the nationalist "witch hunt" at his Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad, he fought against rigged elections for the student parliament... Because of this, even then he went through the "hot rabbit" of the regime and its media.

At the time, Dinić also said this to "Vreme": "Other students ask us - where do we get the courage from. They understand what is happening, they offer us silent support or support on social networks, but they are afraid of more serious, visible engagement. They fear that if they are active, it will make it difficult for them to study. They also fear that, if they are labeled as 'enemies', it will make it impossible or difficult for them to get a job after graduation. I have to admit that this fear is not clear to me. So who before us students should fight for a different, better future, a more normal society and basic justice?"

Now this mild-mannered, well-behaved young man is in custody on terrible charges. It is enough to look at his photo and conclude how absurd the regime's claims are - that he is a terrorist and a bully. Dinić was born in Bor, he is a final year student of cultural studies, an excellent connoisseur of rock and roll, a former Red Cross volunteer, co-organizer and participant of various humanitarian actions in his hometown. His parents are educators. A respectable Bor family, which the citizens of this town openly support in these difficult times. They cannot believe that the very good Lazar is in custody, and that for no other reason than the overthrow of the constitutional order. Lazar also has a brother Jovan, also an impeccable young man.

"Laza is a person with a bright and good spirit, friendly, communicative and charismatic. And that's not what we say, but all the people who know him, both those in Bor and those from Novi Sad with whom we spoke. We are proud to have raised him - as we also teach our students - to be just, full of love, an adherent of the truth, respectful of diversity, tolerant... The need to fight against injustice has been embedded in him since birth. He does not tolerate The fact that he is in custody, that he is suspected of terrorism and violence, does not say anything about him, but it says a lot about our society", says his father, Aleksandar Dinić, in an interview with "Vreme".

Aleksandar says that it is extremely difficult for the family in this period, especially since they had the opportunity to visit him only once in the last month. However, the support of friends, relatives, Laza's friends and various strangers means a lot to them! And it means a lot to them that Lazar knows that he has the endless support of his family.

"He is mentally strong. We got that impression when we saw him. He does not understand detention as something tragic, but as something that as an activist in a country like this he has to go through. He has adapted to the situation he is in, uses the time to read, study, write, think about everything. He is aware that this will pass. We will see how all this will affect him when he is released from detention," says Aleksandar. He says that Lazar got into civic activism through humanitarian work and music. He reported from music festivals for music portals, did interviews with domestic and foreign rockers, and even his graduation thesis was dedicated to the music of the 20th century.

MLADEN CVIJETIĆ

Mladen Cvijetić, a sociology student, began his social and political engagement in the organization OSA (Youth Student Action), which was very active a few years ago in the fight against the violence of Vučić's authoritarian regime, as well as in various protest activities in Novi Sad. Because of this, she was often targeted by the regime, among other things, her activists were declared "Ustasha". A few years ago, Novi Sad was plastered with posters showing a "checkerboard" and the inscription "Ready for the Wasp", all with the logo of this organization.

Mladen was born in 1999 in Jagodina. He celebrated his 26th birthday in custody. His friends were outside the Klisan prison to wish him a happy birthday, over the fence and bars, all with a heart-shaped cake. As things stand now, Mladen had the worst time in custody. He had a strong reaction to bedbug bites, he got sick, he vomited, he sweated, his arm tingled. He was given medical attention. After a few days, he felt bad again, but then his request to be examined by a doctor was refused. Only after pressure from lawyers and the public was he transferred to another cell, he was given medical assistance.

From the organization of the OSA to today, Mladen's activism does not stop, it just takes on different forms. He enters party life as a member of the Zajedno party. Later, with many other members of the party, and due to disagreement with the leadership that decided to boycott the June local elections, he moved to the Movement of Free Citizens.

The "holder" is several misdemeanor and even criminal charges, all because of activism, actions and protests in which he was either an organizer or a participant. Those reports and the fact that Maltene appears every week in court or the police, to give statements, defend himself or testify - did not discourage him, on the contrary, they only gave him strength. He is convinced of what he is fighting for - for a better and fairer country. He participated in the defense of Novi Sad against urban violence, organized the "1 out of 5 million" protests in Novi Sad, the July "covid" protests, demonstrations against Rio Tinto, and so on. He wrote for the magazine "Novi plamen", the topic - labor rights in Serbia. Now he is a city councilor of PSG.

"Mladen Cvijetić is a symbol of resistance, struggle and hope. Through his involvement, he went through the transition from pure activism to political struggle, at the moments when it becomes the most challenging", his girlfriend Marija Nedić, who is also an activist, told Vreme. She says that the scope of his activism, to which he devoted years of his life, cannot fit into one article.

"Thousands of photographs that I own confirm this. As one of the most active fighters against the current government, despite all the risks, he continuously sacrifices his name and freedom. He experienced the entire regime's demonstration of force over free thought - he was arrested, prosecuted, faced with violence and death threats, harassed countless times. And he never gave up," says Marija.

He adds that Mladen is a voice of resistance against political persecution. He is persistent in his fight and detention will not stop him.

"And now, when he is in custody without any evidence against him and his comrades, faced with injustice and difficult conditions - he remains steadfast. His fight is not only political, it is a fight for each of us. He is my partner, my hero and a symbol of intransigence in the fight for a better future," says Maria.

photo: radio 021

LADO JOVOVIĆ

"Terrorist" Lado Jovović is a marketing expert who works for a foreign company, he is a graduate professor of sports and physical culture, a handball coach and a former handball player. Pro bono coached the kids in handball, convinced that it is important to pass on the love of sports and teamwork to the younger generations, and that sports are not the privilege of the rich. He is a selfless father of two children, nine-year-old Marta and seven-year-old Luka. His wife's name is Danijela Filipović, she is a lawyer.

Danijela and Lado planned to move away from Serbia a few years ago. To Norway. They had a call from friends who live there, and their support. Aware that Serbia is going in a very bad direction, they did not want their children to live in unfreedom, in an environment of violence and a twisted value system. And then in 2022, they had hope that changes were possible. They seemed to see a light at the end of the tunnel. They decided to stay. Lado said: if we stay, then we will have to fight for a different society. That's when his political engagement begins.

Cultured, warm and measured - this is how he approaches political action. He believes that things can be changed for the better in a peaceful way, through culture, through conversation, but also with serious and persistent engagement. He loves jazz, he is a big fan of Đorđe Balašević, Salinger is his favorite writer, his grandfather was a partisan, he was operated on by nationalism and hatred. He never wanted to be in the limelight, which is in keeping with his modesty. He was a security guard at the protests, always there to technically solve problems and meet the participants.

"It is difficult for him to endure detention. He is a man of kind words, fine manners, he did not deserve to be in detention, especially under such serious charges. Detainees can only go outside for an hour a day. It is difficult for him because he is physically active all his life. In his cell, however, he is surrounded by okay people. At the beginning, he slept on the floor, on a mattress. When he was told that he would soon be given a bed, when one was empty, that is, that he would soon be transferred to another room, he replied: "It's better to lie on pathos than to be in a room with some bad people," says Danijela Jovović in an interview with "Vreme".

Lado has been in custody since March 13, and Daniela received permission to visit him only on April 1. She told her son and daughter that their dad is on a business trip, that he is abroad, that they cannot hear from him because he is in a different time zone, so they sleep at different times. "We agree on everything, so I wanted to agree with Lada when to tell the truth to the children, in what way to tell them. We waited until my son's birthday had passed. They took it very hard when I told them that dad was in custody. All their lives we teach them to be fair and honest. As a lawyer, I constantly tell them that the law is above all else and must be respected. We stick to the truth in education, we teach them to be honest. the truth is slow but attainable. They are shocked by the fact that their dad is in custody just because he told the truth," says Daniela.

Daniela adds that Lado is determined to continue his involvement until things change in the country. This is what he says to his comrades: there is no giving up! "He will continue where he left off, detention will not hold him back, especially now that the entire educated world has stood up in the fight for the same values ​​that he is fighting for. Maybe in a different way. He had time to think about how to proceed, unfortunately in detention," says Daniela.

SRĐAN DJURIĆ

Srđan Đurić is a nice guy. Behind the innocent and always smiling face hides an emotional, empathetic man who is impossible not to love. This is how the "terrorist" Srdjan is described by people who had the opportunity to meet him. Like Cvijetić, he also started his social involvement in Youth and Student Action (OSA). Like Cvijetić, he also celebrated his birthday (27th) in the Klisan prison. Friends and comrades also brought him a cake. They say that because of his boyish spirit and sincerity, he very quickly won the sympathy of his "colleagues" from the detention unit. He also participated in the organization or co-organization of all protests in Novi Sad in the past few years. His and Mladen's political path is common.

Srđan is a student of Serbian language and literature. And a poet. He has published two books of poetry. A great opponent of nationalism, fascism, and all totalitarian ideologies. He also wrote several columns in the daily "Danas". In one, he criticizes the regional union of nationalists, pointing out that nationalism covers up a large-scale robbery of citizens:

"Every time the citizens of Serbia realize that their refrigerator is empty while the representatives of the regime are bragging about the stolen money in their mansions, some kind of conflict is bound to 'break out' in the region. And such conflict is almost always produced through the cooperation of the 'conflicting' regimes. This kind of cooperation of the nationalist regimes is also visible in other aspects, but it is most concrete when it comes to the theft of public money. In those situations, 'harmony and solidarity' is visible - interest is what holds them together," he wrote. Đurić a few years ago.

In December 2023, in the center of Novi Sad, two young men physically attacked Srđan, causing him serious injuries. The identity of the attacker has not been revealed. They called him "Ustasha" and insulted him, then knocked him to the ground and kicked him.

DAVOR STEFANOVIĆ

A special paradox of this progressive "fight against terrorism" is Davor Stefanović. Student of FTN and member of PSG. The young activist, originally from Majdanpek, did not even attend the "incriminated meeting", but was dozing in the next room. Nevertheless, he was prosecuted and ordered to be detained for 30 days. And he was napping because he is one of the most active activists from Novi Sad. There is no where he is not, and a smile is always on his face. Activists sometimes get tired too.

He is an associate of many organizations that provide various types of assistance to vulnerable people from Novi Sad. Among other things, a volunteer of the Kitchen of Solidarity project, which has been implemented for years within the Youth Center CK13, and which provides food for the hungry and poor. Davor is left-oriented, strongly sensitive to social justice. You can meet him not only in Novi Sad, but all over the country at various civil protests.

For people who know him even a little, it was really creepy to see him on video with handcuffs, while the police take him through the streets of the city in front of the cameras of the regime tabloids, and under the accusation that he was planning to carry out a coup d'état.

"Davor cares about people. He is one of the strongest humanitarian volunteers that this city knows. He will come and do everything necessary because - nothing is really difficult for a man. At the beginning of the joint struggle, Davor came when I was sick and cooked me potatoes and soups for dinner, which I will never forget. Davor is there whenever needed", says about him party colleague Radivoje Jovović, PSG provincial deputy and professor of political science. He adds that on Davor you can see all the seminars and trainings he attended, all the books he read.

"It is absolutely grounded in the positions presented. Also, although he is ideologically on the left, he is very capable of subjecting any ideological direction to a critical scrutiny and, understanding that no ideology should be dogmatically followed, tries to find the most humane and practically feasible solution to a problem. To the uninitiated, this may seem like the absence of a firm position, but far from that, it is actually a feature of a scientific mind that strives for a complete and objective picture that is based on a constant doubts", says Jovović and adds that Davor homo ludens, a man who likes to play and experiment. Harmless, boyish.