The Basic Court in Nikšić, Judge Mirko Kojović, issued a first-instance verdict yesterday against two defendants for inflicting severe bodily harm on Boško Pavićević, a civic activist from Nikšić, who opposed vandals on the night between December 2nd and 3rd, 2023.

Relatives Miloš (19) and Matija Stanišić (18) were accused of first knocking Pavićević to the ground with blows to the head, and then continuing to strike him, causing a broken jaw. Matija was sentenced to 5 months in prison for abuse, while Miloš received an 8-month prison sentence for causing severe bodily harm.

Before the attack, Pavićević had warned a group of teenagers not to pick flowers at the Freedom Square in Nikšić and not to park vehicles in the pedestrian zone. When they continued with such behavior, he started recording them with his phone, which led the two defendants to beat him and break his jaw, while Duško Radojičić, who was with Pavićević, was also knocked to the ground with a blow to the head.

The Human Rights Action provided free legal assistance to activist Boško Pavićević. He was represented by lawyer Dalibor Tomović.

We welcome the first-instance verdict as a very important step in protecting citizens who do not remain silent in the face of vandalism, but instead advocate for the preservation of public order, shared values, and common space.

The verdict sends a clear message that violence and attempts to intimidate responsible and engaged individuals will not go unpunished, and that judicial institutions play a key role in building a safe and just society.