Inquiry Committee to look into Serbia’s latest mass shootings

An inquiry Committee, which will look into the circumstances leading up to the two mass shootings in Serbia that took place in early May, will hold its first session on Tuesday.

Serbian Parliament President Vladimir Orlić scheduled the first session of the Inquiry Committee, which will determine the facts and circumstances that led to the mass murders at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School and in the villages on the territory of Smederevo and Mladenovac.

A 13-year-old pupil committed the first mass shooting, killing nine students and a guard on 3 May. The next day, a local 20-year-old shot at least 20 people in Mladenovac and Smederevo. Nine people died, and he has been arrested and charged.

The mass shootings caused protests in ‘Serbia against violence’, with demands ranging from removing Interior Minister Bratislav Gašić, and director of BIA Aleksandar Vulin, and cancelling media that promote violence. The Serbian government reacted to the shootings with a mass call for handing over weapons, which has so far resulted in over 100,000 weapons and explosive devices being surrendered to the police.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly established an Inquiry Committee to gain insight into a certain situation and determine facts about events. The Committee consists of MPs and has the right to request data, documents and information from institutions and take statements from individuals.

It is not allowed to perform investigative or judicial activities, and it submits a report to the National Assembly containing proposals of measures. The survey committee should determine failures in the exercise of competencies and take appropriate actions and responsibilities of the competent authorities.

Orlić also scheduled an extraordinary session of the Assembly at the request of 103 MPs, with 30 items on the agenda.

In the parliamentary procedure, there will also be a proposal to elect Slavica Đukić-Dejanović as Minister of Education in the Government of Serbia. The previous minister, Branko Ružić, turned in his resignation a couple of days after the mass shooting in the Belgrade elementary school.

(EURACTIV.rs | Bojana Zimonjić Jelisavac)