Dragoslav Ognjanovic

The arrest last Friday in Serbia of Dijana Hrkalovic, a former state secretary at the Interior Ministry, who has been linked to a notorious crime gang, the "Janjicari", is politically motivated, and she is being used as a scapegoat, Sead Spahovic, her lawyer, told BIRN.

It was called regarding the situation with organized crime in Serbia and the killing of lawyer Dragoslav Ognjanovic, the Serbian government announced.

The President of the Serbian Bar Association, Viktor Gostiljac, on Monday said that lawyers would demand the formation of a state commission to investigate attacks on their profession.

Dragoslav Ognjanovic, a well-known Serbian lawyer, was killed on Saturday evening in front of his apartment building in the Novi Beograd neighbourhood. Police are still at the scene, while surrounding streets are blocked.