Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection received the representatives of the Citizens' Association "Truth - Tamara's Laws", which filed a complaint against the Republican Public Prosecutor's Office to the Commissioner due to the denial of the Prosecutor's Office to provide answers to a series of questions relating to the actions or failure to act in court cases related to the tragic incident in the discotheque Contrast in Novi Sad.
Representatives of the Association informed the Commissioner about their activities, and about their satisfaction due to the passing of the so called Tamara's Law after their three-year action and due to the conviction of some of those responsible for the tragedy; however, they also informed him of their absolute dissatisfaction with the absence of any kind of accountability of any of the officials, who were to control the installations and prevent the tragedy. This dissatisfaction had been the reason for referring a series of questions to the Republican Public Prosecutor's Office, and since they did not receive any answers they submitted a complaint to the Commissioner.
The Commissioner informed the representatives of the Citizens' Associations that Article 22 of the Law on Free Access to Information stipulates that the Republican Public Prosecutor's Office is one of the six bodies against which a complaint cannot be lodged with the Commissioner, and that consequently their complaint will be rejected as inadmissible and informed them that in the present case their rights may be asserted by filing a lawsuit with the Administrative Court.
Representatives of the group of citizens understood and accepted the explanation, and expressed their gratitude for the very correct cooperation with the institution of the Commissioner; however, they also asked the Commissioner to provide them any assistance he can. In this regard, the Commissioner promised to inform the Republican Public Prosecutor about this meeting, and suggest that he/she receives representatives of the Association, and that in any case the Prosecutor should provide answers to the questions they asked him.
The Commissioner is of the opinion that all state authorities have an obligation to endeavor to be as fair as possible in relation to our requests for information or matters referred to them by citizens. This obligation applies in all situations, and in situations that are related to the tragic events, when the interest of the citizens is understandably increased due to strong emotions, even when the requests and questions stem from misunderstanding or ignorance of the legislation etc., that obligation is all the more greater.
