VUČIĆ DID NOT ABUSE OFFICE AS PRESIDENT

BELGRADE, OCTOBER 20 /SRNA/ – The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade has dismissed a criminal complaint against Aleksandar Vučić over suspected abuse of office in decisions to grant pardons while he was president, finding no grounds to suspect that a criminal offence had been committed.

The complaint was filed by , leader of the opposition Democratic Party, who alleged that Vučić had abused his official position in connection with pardon decisions made before he resigned as president.

In its explanation, the prosecutor's office said the complaint had been dismissed because there were no grounds to suspect that the alleged offence, or any other offence prosecuted ex officio, had been committed.

It explained that Vučić had not acted beyond the limits of his constitutional powers in a manner that constituted abuse of office, nor had his actions secured him a benefit, caused damage or seriously violated another person's rights.

"The mere fact that the complainant disputes the legality or justification of the pardon decisions, or even the manner in which they were made, is not sufficient for this to be treated as evidence, particularly given that no evidence was submitted alongside the complaint to substantiate the allegations made in it," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.