Vucic: Progress in the investigation of the murder of Oliver Ivanovic, I expect results

The investigation into the murder of Oliver Ivanovic by the Serbian investigative authorities has advanced in recent weeks. I expect results – the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced the latest information on the investigation of the murder of the most prominent Serb leader from Kosovo. The Serbian President conveyed the information and expectations during a joint press conference with the French President, Emmanuel Macron in Paris, responding to a question of a journalist from Radio France. After six months, this is the first information on the progress made in the investigation of the assassination of a Serbian opposition leader from Kosovo, the French journalist underlined.

On a number of occasions both the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his Kosovo counterpart Hashim Thaci have announced information on the murder and committed to deadlines but to date these have not been met. The two sides, Belgrade and Pristina, however, often accuse each other.

At the beginning of this month Aleksandar Vucic said again but without specifying a deadline:

„I’m almost sure, I do not know how much time is needed, but I am almost sure that this crime will not stay unrevealed.“

On the other side, Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci’s words will also be remembered that the truth about Ivanovic’s murder „will hurt someone“.

To the present day the truth remains untold.

„We are conducting our special investigation and I cannot tell you that it is completely finished, because as you can see, no one has been arrested and convicted for committing this crime. But I think that our authorities have made progress on the issue in the last few weeks, and I expect we will get results. The perfect crime does not exist, there is a great hope and need for this crime to be resolved,“ the Serbian President said.

He also reiterated his earlier claim on satellite images and fog:

„We requested satellite images from some Foreign Services so that we could find out where the potential assassins and murderers were hiding. We received the answer that these images do not show anything, because it was foggy that day.“

„Nevertheless, we asked again for this footage, to see for ourselves. Unfortunately, we did not get them,“ he added, not specifying exactly which Foreign Service he was talking about.

He also stated that Belgrade submitted „all the information“ Pristina required, which is also conducting an investigation:

„We are ready to cooperate on this issue, at any time, because this is one of the key issues for us.“

Yesterday marked the six-month anniversary since the murder of Ivanovic. Representatives of the international community reacted, however, there was no reaction from official Belgrade and Pristina.

The six-month memorial was marked in North Mitrovica, where GI SDP members and friends once again asked: „Who killed Oliver Ivanovic?“ A memorial was previously held in Belgrade, at the New Cemetery, in the Alley of Meritorious Citizens, where Ivanovic was buried. Read more in the news:

Family and friends pay tribute at a six month memorial service to the murdered Oliver Ivanovic: Which is worse, the murder or the thunderous silence?

 Lebet on murder of Ivanovic 6 months later: An appalling but clear message that people who act and speak independently can be silenced and that perpetrators can count on impunity

 OSCE on the 6 months following Oliver Ivanović’s assassination: The culprits at large, this case is a major test for the rule of law in Kosovo

 Six months of the Oliver Ivanovic murder: The untold truth