Lawyers, students, and citizens gathered outside the Constitutional Court of Serbia on Monday to protest perceived political interference in the judiciary, calling the demonstration “Dismissals Instead of Congratulations.”
The protest, organized by students in ongoing blockades, was sparked by concerns over recently adopted judicial laws, known as the so-called “Mrdić Laws,” which critics say undermine judicial independence and exert pressure on prosecutors and judges performing their duties impartially.
Speakers highlighted the targeting of high-profile prosecutors, including Irena Njeloš, head of Serbia’s prosecution office, and Raša Popović, director of the Anti-Drug Unit, whose recent drug seizure operation in the village of Konjuh near Kruševac drew political scrutiny.
“In Serbia today, the problem is no longer criminal activity itself, but the prosecutors who dare to investigate it,” a student activist stated, emphasizing that the demonstration represented a constitutional gathering defending the rule of law.
Critics argue that the Mrdić Laws were passed without public debate or professional consultation, and were intended to shield government officials from criminal investigations. Uglješa Mrdić, the laws’ proposer, publicly acknowledged that the measures were aimed at preventing prosecutors from investigating ministers and top government officials, a revelation protesters say confirms the laws’ political motivation.
Prosecutorial collaborator Rade Bajić, speaking about the ongoing Generalštab case, stated that the reforms have broken the longstanding pattern of delaying legal accountability for political elites.
“From May 12, 2025, onward, there will no longer be cases left to ‘wait their turn.’ The defense of the Constitution and the legal order is immediate,” Bajić said, highlighting the importance of judicial courage in confronting systemic abuses.
Democratic Party leader Srđan Milivojević stressed the historical significance of defending judicial independence, referencing Serbia’s Dušan’s Code from 680 years ago, and warning that current reforms threaten civil liberties and the rule of law.
“Our society is being dismantled before our eyes. Only civic courage and defiance can ensure that judicial institutions can operate independently,” Milivojević added.
Union representative Nemanja Đurić praised the public’s support for the judiciary, noting that citizens recognized it as one of the last independent branches of government.
The student-led protest lasted about an hour, featuring speeches but no marches, as participants expressed solidarity with judges, prosecutors, and administrative staff facing political and legal pressures.
