The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection estimates that the decision of the State Public Prosecutor to drop charges against the journalist of the ‘Nacionalni gradjanski’ daily newspaper is a professional and responsible act. Emphasizing that such a decision of the Prosecution is in accordance with the democratic standards of free press and right of the public to know and be informed, but also with demands of fairness and justice, the Commissioner Rodoljub Sabic has also stated:

‘This morning I have been informed by Zagorka Dolovac, the State Public Prosecutor, that the Prosecution is not going to continue criminal proceedings against the journalist of the ‘Nacionalni gradjanski’ daily newspaper on the indictment initiated by the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad but which has not yet come into effect and that instead the investigation will be extended to other official unknown persons for disclosing the secret.

Immediately after the information about initiating the indictment against a journalist reached the public, I warned that such an act, for many reasons, could be interpreted as the infringement on the freedom of the press and the right of the public to know and be informed, pointing to legal guarantees on confidentiality of their source of information. I warned that in specific circumstances, if there are any reasons for it at all, the responsible for the revelation of the secret should be sought on the other side, among state officials and personnel. On that occasion I expressed hope that the State Public Prosecutor would correct the actions of the District Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad.           

Of course I am very pleased that that is what the State Public Prosecutor has done exactly and in that way confirmed the recognition of standards connected to the freedom of press and the right of the public to know and be informed which are applicable in the democratic world.’