STEGA: Future winners to refuse the July Thirteenth Prize if it is awarded in a compromised procedure

A year after last year's protests over the July Thirteenth Award, the civic initiative "Stega" has once again announced a gathering in front of Vila Gorica on July 13th.

The organizers say they remain committed to the same values ​​and accuse the authorities of lack of transparency in this year's selection of laureates, calling on future winners to refuse the award if it is awarded in what they claim is a compromised procedure.

The rally also highlighted the court proceedings being conducted against participants in last year's protest.

"Today is July 7th, we still do not know what the list of candidates for the Thirteenth of July Award is, who the laureates of the Thirteenth of July Award are, and according to my knowledge it must be awarded by the 10th. I appeal and call for the personal moral responsibility of future laureates to refuse such an award," said director Danilo Marunović.

"From this position, as the defense attorney of these defendants and as a citizen, I would like to send another message to the competent institutions, primarily the court. With the emphasis that this is not an attempt to put pressure on them, but rather a call to respect the legal order and to do what is their job. And the court's job is primarily to protect basic human rights, especially when they are threatened and violated by the powerful, by those in power," said attorney Veselin Radulović.