Stefanovic: Probe into 2008 torching of embassies completed

Stefanovic told at news conference on Tuesday that police obtained the data that they presented to the prosecution and that, following the consultations with the prosecution, criminal charges will be pressed for certain unlawful actions or inaction.

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“I soon expect to see an epilogue of the investigation, and I can say that the investigation has revealed that not all possible actions were taken, so certain steps will be made in that regard,” Stefanovic said.

The interior ministry set up a task force to determine the responsibility for failing to thwart protesters in their attempt to set the diplomatic representative offices ablaze during the street demonstrations that took place on February 21, 2008.

Foto: Profimedia/AFP

The incidents took place following a protest against Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence that was staged under the motto "Kosovo is Serbia", involving around 600,000 people from all parts of the country.

The aim of the task force is to identify all individuals involved in the incidents and clarify the circumstances of the violent acts so that the organizers and attackers responsible for the torching of the two embassies can be legally prosecuted.

The High Court in Belgrade began trying the 12 people suspected of setting fire to the Embassies of the US and Germany in Belgrade.

The High Prosecutor's Office raised the indictment on July 10, 2012, and all defendants were released pending trial after their detention was suspended.

The indictees are charged with the criminal act of causing general danger.

The identification of the perpetrators and the masterminds of the torching of the German embassy is one of the seven conditions set by Berlin with respect to Serbia's progress on its EU path.

Washington has said on several occasions that the US expects the Serbian government to identify and punish the perpetrators of the incidents, in which the US embassy in Belgrade was set on fire.

(Telegraf.rs / Tanjug)