Centre in defence of individual rights: Criminal case against General Vlada Trifunović (1995)

The fate of General Vlada Trifunović has provoked many individuals and organisations to raise their voices in his defence, raise awareness and present the public with the truth concerning this case, which differs from the one presented by the regime. 

Public debate on the criminal case of Gen. Vlada Trifunović and other officers of the Varaždin Corps was held in May 1995 and was opened with an explanation of the criminal proceedings before the Military Court in Belgrade, which was perceived by the public as being one of many rigged proceedings in the military judiciary of the country. Moderators - Vladan Vasilijević, Momčilo Grubač and Slobodan Vučković presented the allegations of the indictment, the ruling of the court and the defence of the officers accused of the criminal act of "undermining the country's military and defence powers." Participants in the debate agreed that the trial in question was a political one, organised to serve one particular political purpose, and what is in question is the severe violation of the principle of legality. Particular attention was given to the issue of military judiciary in general and the proceedings held before the military courts, and it was underlined that there is a need to reform the judiciary system so that military courts become part of a single judicial system. 

One year following the debate, Gen. Vlada Trifunović was acquitted and released.