Miljkovic: Prosecution’s claims based on assumptions, defense pointed to procedural failures

Following a detention hearing for seven directors of healthcare and educational institutions in Gracanica, which lasted more than five hours at the Basic Court in Pristina, attorney Predrag Miljkovic, legal representative of Clinical Hospital Center Pristina director Bratislav Lazic, stated that the defense unanimously pointed to shortcomings in the prosecution’s case, whose allegations, he said, were based merely on assumptions.

The court in Pristina has not yet announced its decision regarding further measures, while the detained individuals are charged with the criminal offense of “violation of voters’ free will.”

“At today’s detention hearing, the prosecutor stated that, in addition to reasonable suspicion, all three legal grounds existed for ordering detention against the accused. The defense unanimously pointed to all the shortcomings of the prosecution and the deficiencies of this two-day mini-investigation, which failed to gather a single valid piece of evidence indicating that the accused allegedly committed the offense they are charged with. All of the prosecution’s allegations are based on assumptions. Specifically, regarding my client, Dr. Bratislav Lazic, the prosecution failed even to secure a dismissal decision, presenting only the statement of the alleged injured party, who claims the dismissal was politically motivated. We pointed out to the court that this is essentially a ‘word against word’ situation,” Miljkovic said.

He further stated that the prosecution’s motion contained almost no substantive information, while everything presented by the prosecutor remained at the level of assumptions.

“Mr. Lazic has served as hospital director for nine years, and during those nine years there were only three or four dismissals. In the past year and a half alone, there have been four or five elections. They are now exploiting the situation and using these elections to portray any employment termination as politically motivated, rather than the result of failures to comply with the rights and obligations arising from employment contracts,” Miljkovic stated.

He expressed hope that the court would assess the matter properly and allow the detained individuals to defend themselves while at liberty.

“Ultimately, I believe there is not even reasonable suspicion for these proceedings to be conducted at all; rather, everything is politically orchestrated, just as many, many proceedings have been until now,” attorney Miljkovic concluded.