Serbian Judiciary Still Influenced by Govt, Survey Shows

Serbia's justice system is still influenced by the executive, while many judges and prosecutors believe it does not make decisions independently, a survey by the Nis-based NGO Center for Human Rights shows.

When asked whether they believe that they were independent of parliament, 75 per cent of the prosecutors answered that they were not, as did 17 per cent of the judges.

Some 42 judges and 73 prosecutors participated in the survey, which was carried out during 2013.

When it comes to their independence from the executive, 85 per cent of prosecutors said they were not, and 31.4 per cent of judges confirmed the same.

Goran Ilic, head of the Assosiation of Prosecutors, said at the presentation of the survey in Belgrade on Monday that most of those who felt under the pressure of goverment or other state institutions were presidents of courts.

The survey also showed that 60 per cent of judges and prosecutors have little trust in the government.

Half of the prosecutors and judges questioned said the Serbian justice system is insufficiently strong to resist the executive and hold it accountable.

Half of the judges and prosecutors also believe that most citizens do not trust the Serbian judicial system.