Serbia’s Constitutional Court President Vladan Petrov said judges who publicly declare themselves opponents of the current government and violate restrictions on political activity should face dismissal.
“Sanctions for judges who break the prohibition on political engagement, particularly those who openly oppose the current authorities, should be removal from office,” Petrov said in an interview with Politika newspaper.
He described such behavior as a conflict of interest that can and must be sanctioned by the loss of judicial status. “The problem is that ‘crows do not pluck each other’s eyes,’ and a culture of impunity persists,” he said.
Petrov criticized the High Judicial Council, saying it lacks cohesion and sufficient authority to impose individual sanctions on politically active judges. “Returning these matters to parliament would only politicize judicial status. The judiciary must be protected from politics but also from the Constitution and the state,” he added.
He also warned of judges’ connections with non-governmental organizations allegedly funded from dubious sources and engaged in anti-state political activity. Petrov singled out CEPRIS, saying some members misuse the principle of judicial independence by engaging in overtly political actions.