Serbia’s ‘Young Gun’ Prosecutor: We’re Rebuilding Trust in Judiciary

Milan Jovanovic (L), a journalist whose house was set on fire in 2018, and deputy public prosecutor Predrag Milovanovic (R). Photo: Marko Risovic/Cenzolovka

"I went public in that case because of what the first-accused said. And it was completely inappropriate, and more of an attack on the institution than on me. The decision of State Prosecutorial Council was lawful, but it was questionable when it came to fairness, since they had a legal right to leave me on the case," Milovanic told BIRN.

"I asked to finish what I'd started, since it was a highly important case and I knew every piece of it, and the new prosecutor would have to start from scratch, but the Council had no ear for my appeals," he added.

Zagorka Dolovac, who leads the Council, and who this year started her third six-year term in the post, has been widely accused by judiciary experts of being politically influenced and of ignoring high political cases of crime and corruption. She is also almost never in the public eye and refuses to give interviews.

Asked about her behaviour in her post, Milovanovic said he didn't want to attack anyone ad hominem, and would emphasize the tough position of state prosecutor, who is picked by parliament on the proposal of the government.

"It is very political process and thus puts the prosecutor in a systemically tough position. Their behaviour will depend on their personality. But I need to remind people that Dolovac's personality was acceptable to both the previous and current ruling elites," Milovanovic said.

"It is a fact that she entered a third term and, for her work, and mine also, history will give the final verdict," he concluded.

Accused of seeking personal promotion

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