Đukanović: Misogynistic attack by Rmandić, the Ethics Committee will continue to work professionally regardless of the pressure

The Ethics Committee will continue to work professionally, impartially and in accordance with the applicable regulations, regardless of the pressure it suffers from police officer Igor Rmandić, especially bearing in mind the misogynistic nature of the attack on the Chairperson of the Committee, announced today the Chairperson of the Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP ) Kristina Đukanović.

The Ministry of Interior submitted Đukanović's response to the statement of the Independent Police Union signed by President Igor Rmandić.

"At the first special session held on February 3, 2023, the members of the Ethics Committee of the Ministry of Interior considered, among other things, whether it is necessary to initiate a procedure to review the actions of the police officers who organized the protest in October 2022. The position of the members of the Ethics Committee at that session was to appreciate the union association of police officers, as well as the guaranteed right to strike/protest, in accordance with the current regulations, but also to gather all relevant information regarding the strike, and especially the blocking of roads by police officers," she pointed out. is Đukanović.

She added that in relation to the above, 10.2.2023. letter sent to the Police Directorate in order to provide relevant information on the basis of which the Ethics Committee would assess whether there was a violation of the Code of Police Ethics or not.

"The response from the Police Administration was submitted on February 27.2.2023, 9.3.2023, and was considered at the first subsequent session held on March 27.3.2023, 10.2. The members of the Ethics Committee could not give an opinion based on the submitted documentation, and requested additional information from the Police Administration in in relation to the possible misdemeanor liability of protest participants, that letter was delivered to the Police Directorate on March 27.3, XNUMX. The letters sent to the Police Directorate on February XNUMX and March XNUMX did not require the submission of any lists of police officers, they exclusively referred to information on whether all legal prerequisites for organizing a protest, and whether there was misdemeanor liability of police officers. Therefore, the Ethics Committee demanded a statement in relation to the observance of positive legal regulations, and did not suspend those same regulations as stated by police officer Rmandić," said Đukanović.

According to her, on the basis of competence, and in accordance with the Law on Internal Affairs, the Ethics Committee can initiate the determination of violations of the Code of Police Ethics by police officers, which, as Đukanović said, was the case on several occasions.

"In some cases a violation was found, in some cases there were no elements of a violation of the Code of Police Ethics. In this particular case, the Ethics Committee has not yet issued an opinion, and I consider this type of speech by the president of the Independent Police Union to be a kind of pressure on the work of the Ethics Committee, and not for the first time ", said Đukanović.

She said that the Ethics Committee is an institutional mechanism that aims to professionalize, depoliticize and strengthen the integrity of police officers.

"As in none so far, in this case it does not serve as a tool for personal, professional and other calculations, nor does it represent the views of management, trade union organizations or any individual. Members of the Ethics Committee vote freely and independently, and decisions are made by majority vote of the total number of members present. The public is informed about the decisions of the Ethics Committee through the regular publication of minutes from the meetings on the website of the Ministry of the Interior. The Code of Police Ethics is a set of rules that, in addition to other legal acts, should be followed by all police officers, regardless of what gender they are, whether they are in management positions, representatives or members of trade union organizations, employees in certain organizational units, the Ethics Committee will continue to work professionally, impartially and in accordance with applicable regulations, regardless of the pressure it suffers, in this particular case from the police employee Igor Rmandić, especially considering the misogynistic nature of the attack on the President of the Board," Đukanovć concluded.