Three months after the threats at Zavoj Lake, the Prosecutor's Office has not interviewed the participants?
Three months after the chase on Zavoj Lake by an unidentified person, who pursued the editor of Niška Inicijativa with a boat and made direct threats and insults towards Srđan Nonić, the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Pirot, despite receiving all the information about the individual responsible for these actions, did not interrogate the suspect in that capacity and did not file charges.
Three months is not enough time for the prosecution in this city, known for its "efficiency" (similar to the OJT in Niš), to achieve any results, even though there are video recordings and statements from two individuals who were in danger from this person.
In the article we published at the end of July this year, we detailed what happened, as well as in the statement given at the Pirot Police Department and the OJT Pirot. We will once again share the entire text:
Threats and a chase in a metal boat against the editor of Niška Inicijativa, Srđan Nonić, took place over the weekend at Zavoj Lake near Pirot. One of the owners of a raft on Zavoj Lake first chased the journalist Srđan Nonić away from the water with insults and offensive language while he was trying to document a situation of interest to his work on this topic.
The threats were clearly articulated when he attempted to catch up with the kayak in which Nonić was with another person, forcing them to flee to the shore so that a local resident (identity known to the editorial team and reported to the Police and the Prosecution) would not injure them with a larger metal boat.
The recording clearly captures what was said from the water while Nonić was on the shore: "If you publish my picture anywhere, you will disappear," where he reiterated the same thing. Before the incident, the same individual directed curses and insults, which were also recorded.
Reporting from Zavoj Lake was the reason for yet another threat involving being run over by a boat, which was documented last year following the publication of a series of investigations that clearly demonstrated the negligence in this protected area within the Stara Planina National Park. The same case, despite being documented, has no resolution.
The Pirot Police Department interviewed Nonić immediately on Sunday, while a few days later the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office also interviewed Nonić on the same basis.
We have operationally provided information about a possible perpetrator, and we will continue to monitor this case.
Zavoj Lake, along with similar ecological issues, will remain in focus going forward, as will the inaction of the relevant local authorities and the competent Ministry.
Source: Niška inicijativa
