Constitutional Court bans right-wing organization

BELGRADE -- The Serbian Constitutional Court has ruled to ban the activities of the Otačastveni Pokret Obraz organization, it has been reported on Tuesday.

A file photo of Obraz activists (Beta)
A file photo of Obraz activists (Beta)

The Constitutional Court adopted the decision at the request of the public prosecutor who demanded that Obraz should be banned in September 25 2009.

Its activities were described as being aimed at violent destruction of the constitutional order, guaranteed human and minority rights or causing racial, national and religious hatred.

The Constitutional Court held three public debates in the meantime and the Prosecutor's Office last year demanded that Obraz should be removed from the state register, noting that all future associations and groups wishing to continue with Obraz activities should be considered illegal.

This request was made in order to prevent registry of new associations with the same purpose and goals by circumvention of the Court's ban, and thus establish continuity of Obraz actions.

The Interior Ministry (MUP) designated the group as a "clero-fascist organization" in 2005.