Valjevo Police Chief Vlada Jerinić Resigns Amid Brutality Allegations

Vlada Jerinić, the former chief of the Valjevo Police Administration in Serbia, has resigned from his position following a request for his own transfer. His departure follows intense public and student pressure regarding incidents of excessive force used by police in Valjevo last August.

Reports indicate that during those incidents, police officers allegedly used batons and kicks against approximately 40 individuals, including minors and students, some of whom were lying on the ground. The legal proceedings involve allegations of abuse and torture, which carry potential prison sentences of up to ten years.

Lawyer Jana Aćimović Planojević, representing victims, stated that Jerinić’s resignation is insufficient and has called for his detention. She noted that the number of victims has grown from an initial 27 to approximately 35 individuals. The case is currently under the jurisdiction of the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime.