Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia
 
27.10.2015.

Communication



The Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Defence once again calls on the media to refrain from making premature judgments and sensationalism when it comes to reporting on the decisions of the Military Disciplinary Court concerning the fall of the Mi-17 helicopter.

We remind that the reached decisions are the result of determining disciplinary responsibility in accordance with military regulations and they are not related to criminal responsibility. First instance ruling of the Military Disciplinary Court is not final or enforceable, and at this stage does not produce any legal consequences.

The Serbian Armed Forces has made available all the relevant local information in connection to the fall of the military helicopter to the Military Disciplinary Court and the public prosecutor.

The military disciplinary prosecutor in Belgrade, the convicted parties and their counsels, after receiving the verdict, may file an appeal against the first instance verdict of the Military Disciplinary Court in Belgrade. If the appeals are filed, the decision will be made by Higher Military Disciplinary Court at the Ministry of Defence.

Military disciplinary courts are independent and autonomous in the administration of justice. In accordance with the Law on the Armed Forces of Serbia, the first instance military disciplinary courts have been established and are located in the Serbian Armed Forces, based in Belgrade, Nis and Novi Sad, and the Higher Military Disciplinary Court is in the Ministry of Defence in Belgrade.

In order to protect the reputation of the military profession and the Serbian Armed Forces, which enjoys the greatest trust of citizens and whose stability cannot be called into question by anything, we ask you once again to comply with the above facts and refrain from unfounded speculation.
 
MOD
Ministry of defence Republic of Serbia, Bircaninova 5 street, Belgrade
Questions of citizens: brziodgovor@mod.gov.rs, media requests: info@mod.gov.rs
Reproduction is allowed in the whole and parts with specifying content source