Judges demand resignation of Serbian Constitutional Court President

An informal group of judges and prosecutors known as ‘Odbrana struke’ (Defense of the Profession) has called for the resignation of Vladan Petrov, the President of the Constitutional Court. The demand follows controversial remarks made by Petrov regarding allegations of student surveillance using Pegasus spyware.

In a television interview, Petrov reportedly stated that citizens have no reason to worry about wiretapping ‘if they have nothing to hide.’ The group condemned these comments, asserting they demonstrate an ‘elementary ignorance of the Constitution’ and trivialize the violation of fundamental human rights, specifically the right to privacy and communication secrecy.

The group further criticized Petrov for undermining the authority of the Constitutional Court by appearing on a media outlet where no other Serbian judge has previously appeared. They accused him of acting as a ‘trustee of the ruling political party’ and failing to adhere to previous court protocols regarding media communication.