In the continuation of sitting commenced on 5 March, the members of the Committee on Justice and Administration considered the Conclusion of the Privatisation Committee recommending that the Committee on Justice and Administration consider the court procedures in the bankruptcy proceedings against RK Beograd company.

The representatives of the Association of Citizens Shareholders and creditors of RK Beograd voiced their objections to the court procedures in the bankruptcy proceedings initiated by small shareholders and employees in order to exercise their right of debt collection. They also pointed out irregularities in the bankruptcy proceedings against RK Beograd company.

Following the discussion, the Committee adopted the following conclusions:

1. Based on the material presented to the Committee, as well as the statements of the representatives of Association of Citizens Shareholders and creditors of RK Beograd, the Committee recognised the importance and seriousness of the open issues and stressed that all the participants in the privatisation and the initiated court proceedings need to fulfill their legal rights and obligations so that the proceedings may be concluded in accordance to all proscribed rules and regulations.

2. The Committee noted that the demands of the representatives stated at the sitting do not contain a specific proposal that the Committee could, within its purview, endorse, but that they deal with the ongoing court proceedings. In line with the principle of separation of power and principle of independence of the judiciary, the Committee believes that the demands exceed the purview of the Committee which cannot allow its actions and opinions to influence or meddle with the course of court proceedings in any way.

3. However, considering the statements of the employees, i.e. shareholders of the company, that some of their rights have been violated in the court proceedings, the Committee pointed out that the law and other regulations must be consistently observed and enforced of in the privatisation process and bankruptcy proceedings. The Committee focused on the obligation to consistently abide by the principle of efficiency and rationality in these proceedings, so as to complete the court procedure within reasonable deadlines, adding that the participants in the proceedings should be granted the access to all data relevant to the realisation and protection of their rights. Also, it stressed the obligation of equal treatment of all employees, i.e. shareholders in the ongoing proceedings so as to hinder the selective justice they complain of.

4. The Committee also stressed the duty of all organs addressed by the Civil Association Shareholders and creditors of RK Beograd to fulfill their legally established rights and obligations. It particularly emphasised the duty of the Serbian Supreme Court Supervisory Committee to exercise its legal authority and consider the Association’s complaints against judiciary organs and rule on them, as well as to inform them of its opinion as soon as possible.

The sitting was chaired by the Committee Chairman, Bosko Ristic.