This paper examines the transformation of digital evidence in European criminal procedure through the lens of Regulation (EU) 2023/1543 on European Production and Preservation Orders. Building on the lessons of the EncroChat and Sky ECC investigations, it analyses how the Regulation redefines the principles of mutual recognition and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, replacing traditional mutual legal assistance with a direct framework linking judicial authorities and private service providers. The study highlights how the new regime introduces harmonised safeguards—necessity, proportionality, and judicial oversight—intended to reconcile investigatory efficiency with fundamental rights protection. Special attention is devoted to questions of transparency, defence rights, and the prospective admissibility of digital evidence under the Regulation’s standards. The paper further explores the implications for EU candidate countries, particularly Serbia, emphasizing the need to align domestic procedural law with the Union’s digital-evidence framework and to prevent the misuse of the concept of “mutual trust.” It concludes that the e-evidence package marks a decisive step toward a coherent, rights-based European model of digital proof and offers a normative blueprint for countries aspiring to integrate into the European Area of Freedom, Security and Justice.
Anonymous witnesses in International Criminal Law
Ranđelović, Višnja,
pp: 31-46
Witness anonymity as a protective measure leads to a conflict between two rights – the defendant’s right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, on the one hand, and the witness’s right to protection. How witnesses before international criminal courts faced threats and intimidation, and their role in international criminal trials is important and indispensable, the question arises as to whether they should be granted anonymity in certain cases and under certain conditions. So far, in the practice of international criminal courts, anonymity has been granted to witnesses only in the Tadić case before the ICTY. Although other chambers of the ICTY considered the application of this protective measure, and the chambers of the ICC as well, anonymity was not granted to any witness. The main reason is that it is considered that the application of this protective measure is not in accordance with the rights of the defendant. Today, when examples of the use of anonymous witnesses can be found in the practice of certain national courts, which has been confirmed in the practice of the European Court of Human Rights, their use in the practice of international criminal courts can be reconsidered. If the use of anonymous witnesses is allowed before international criminal courts, it must be a last resort and an exceptional measure. Strict conditions for its application must be met first of all, and a balance must be established with the rights of the accused, which are limited due to the use of anonymous witnesses. If the use of anonymous witnesses is not allowed, the consequence may be an acquittal due to lack of evidence, because witnesses refuse to testify out of fear, which has already happened in the practice of international criminal courts. The paper provides a brief historical overview of the use of anonymous witnesses, as well as a brief presentation of national solutions and decisions of national courts regarding their use. The protective measures provided by the acts of international criminal courts, which can serve as a basis for the use of anonymous witnesses, are analyzed. Various positions presented in the Tadić case before the ICTY when deciding on the use of anonymous witnesses, as well as some positions presented before the ICC, are also analyzed. Finally, some guidelines are provided that may be useful for granting anonymity status if this protective measure is to be applied in international criminal justice.
Prisoners’ right to healthcare and the practice of the European Court od Human Rights – What to expect?
Kovačević, Milica,
Atanasov, Saša
pp: 47-62
Prisoners, as a marginalized and vulnerable group, must have access to healthcare. The protection of their mental and physical integrity and their human dignity depend directly on it. The right of prisoners to medical care entails numerous and complex obligations for the state. The aim of this paper is therefore to identify the main norms that bind European countries in the area of healthcare for prisoners. This study contains a systematic analysis of the relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights. In order to ensure that prisoners' rights do not remain an abstract category, the European Court of Human Rights has specified both the nature and the scope of states' obligations in this area. The research findings show that setting binding standards in the area of healthcare is an extremely complex issue given the unequal resources and circumstances in different European countries. However, it is undisputed that the well-being of inmates must be taken into account, as well as the specific prison conditions, which have an additional negative impact on health. In particular, it should be borne in mind that prisoners should enjoy roughly the same level and quality of healthcare as any other citizen in the specific country. Authors conclude that states that do not fulfill their obligations to maintain and improve the health of prisoners violate their human rights.
Zatvorenici kao marginalizovana i ranjiva grupa moraju uživati pravo na zdravstvenu zaštitu. Od navedenog neposredno zavisi zaštita njihovog mentalnog i telesnog integriteta, te ljudskog dostojanstva. Pravo zatvorenika na zdravstvenu zaštitu implicira brojne i kompleksne obaveze države. Otuda je cilj rada da izdvoji ključne standarde koji obavezuju evropske države u domenu zdravstvene zaštite osuđenih. Metod koji je primenjen podrazumeva sistemsku analizu relevatnih evropskih dokumenata i slučajeva iz prakse Evropskog suda za ljudska prava. Kako prava zatvorenika ne bi ostala samo jedna apstraktna kategorija, Evropski sud za ljudska prava je konkretizovao kako vrstu, tako i obim obaveza koje države imaju u tom domenu. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da je postavljanje obavezujućih standarda izuzetno kompleksno pitanje, s obzirom na nejednake prilike u različitim evropskim državama. Ipak, nesporno je da se mora voditi računa o dobrobiti osuđenika, kao i o vrlo specifičnim zatvorskim uslovima koji dodatno negativno utiču na zdravlje. Posebno treba imati u vidu da zatvorenici treba da uživaju približno isti nivo i kvalitet zaštite, kao i ostali građani. Zaključujemo da one države koje ne ispunjavaju posebne obaveze u pogledu očuvanja i unapređenja zdravlja zatvorenika, zapravo povređuju njihova ljudska prava.
Forfeiture of proceeds of crime in Bosnia and Herzegovina with special reference to the conduct of a financial investigation
Karović, Sadmir,
Simović, M. Marina
pp: 63-79
An efficient and energetic fight against crime, especially against specific forms of organized crime, which, by its nature, implies the acquisition of property benefits obtained through criminal offenses, at the same time implies and obligates the timely and efficient initiation and conduct of financial investigation. This investigation is an effective means of forfeiture of the proceeds of crime and is usually conducted in the phase of conducting a classic investigation when certain conditions are met, from which it follows that its initiation, implementation and conduct is not conditioned by raising and confirming of an indictment.
The competent prosecutor of Bosnia and Herzegovina independently and autonomously decides on the initiation and conduct of financial investigation, so that it is not necessary to obtain any prior consent, approval or order from the competent court. The management and supervisory role during the conduct of financial investigation belongs to the competent prosecutor, who orders its conduct by issuing an order. In the implementation or enforcement sense, authorized police officers have a key and dominant role in timely, efficient and legal conduct of financial investigation, which includes the discovery of proceeds of crime, and the collection of necessary evidence for the efficient conduct and conclusion of criminal proceedings.
The Criminal Procedure Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not specifically regulate financial investigations. This investigation is prescribed by special laws (lex specialis) at the level of the Entities of the Federation of BiH and the Republika Srpska, as well as Brčko District of BiH. However, at the state level, although the law does not directly define the initiation and conduct of financial investigation, it derives from the general concept of the investigation, so that it is applied when it comes to criminal offenses that involve the proceeds of crime.
Efikasna i energična borba protiv kriminaliteta, posebno specifičnih oblika organizovanog kriminaliteta, koja, po prirodi stvari, implicira sticanje imovinske koristi pribavljene krivičnim djelom, istovremeno podrazumijeva i obavezuje na blagovremeno i efikasno pokretanje i sprovođenje finansijske istrage. Ova istraga je efikasno sredstvo na planu oduzimanja imovinske koristi pribavljene krivičnim djelom i u pravilu se sprovodi u fazi sprovođenja klasične istrage kada su zadovoljeni određeni uslovi iz čega proizilazi da njeno iniciranje, pokretanje i sprovođenje nije uslovljeno podizanjem i potvrđivanjem optužnice.
Nadležni tužilac Bosni i Hercegovini samostalno i autonomno odlučuje o pokretanju i sprovođenju finansijske istrage, tako da nije potrebno prethodno pribaviti bilo kakvu saglasnost, odobrenje ili naredbu od strane nadležnog suda. Rukovodna i nadzorna uloga prilikom sprovođenja finansijske istrage pripada nadležnom tužiocu koji izdavanjem naredbe nalaže njeno sprovođenje. U provedbenom ili izvršnom smislu ovlaštena službena lica policije imaju ključnu i dominantnu ulogu na planu blagovremenog, efikasnog i zakonitog sprovođenja finansijske istrage koja podrazumijeva otkrivanje imovinske koristi od krivičnih djela, te prikupljanje potrebnih dokaza neophodnih za efikasno vođenje i okončanje krivičnog postupka.
Zakon o krivičnom postupku Bosne i Hercegovine ne reguliše posebno finansijsku istragu. Ova istraga je propisana u posebnim zakonima (lex specialis) na nivou entiteta Federacije BiH i Republike Srpske, kao i Brčko Distrikta BiH. Međutim, na državnom nivou, iako zakonom nije neposredno definisano pokretanje i sprovođenje finansijske istrage, ona proizilazi iz opšteg koncepta istrage, tako da se primjenjuje kada su u pitanju krivična djela koja podrazumijevanju sticanje imovinske koristi pribavljene krivičnim djelom.
Customary Justice System and State Criminal Law: A Model of Reconciliation in Indonesia
Pakpahan, Hatarto,
pp: 81-98
Indonesia's legal landscape encompasses over 250 customary justice systems operating alongside the formal state legal framework, serving more than half of the population's justice needs at the local level. This study examines the development of an adaptive reconciliation model between customary and state criminal justice systems through a comprehensive literature review approach analyzing legal frameworks, academic publications, and empirical studies from five provinces: Aceh, Papua, Bali, West Sumatra, and Central Java. The systematic review analyzed 150 academic articles, 25 legal documents, and 30 case studies published between 2017-2025. The findings reveal that customary justice systems demonstrate significant advantages across five critical dimensions: social impact (community building and reintegration versus stigmatization and isolation), recovery orientation (relationship restoration versus punishment), economic efficiency (rapid, low-cost processes versus expensive, protracted procedures), rehabilitative methods (educational and transformative versus punitive approaches), and imprisonment management (prevention of detention versus prison overcapacity). The customary reconciliation mechanism employs sophisticated approaches through participatory dialogue, symbolic rituals such as peusijuek ceremonies, and continuous social reintegration processes. This research proposes a comprehensive framework for formal recognition of customary court decisions within the national legal system, including specific coordination mechanisms between customary and state courts, development of culturally-sensitive community-based justice programs, and establishment of check and balance mechanisms ensuring human rights protection. The adaptive reconciliation model offers practical solutions for Indonesia's multicultural society while addressing critical challenges in the formal justice system, including case overload, accessibility barriers, limited rehabilitative outcomes, and prison overcapacity issues.
Is Misconception Possible in the Criminal Offense of Unlawful Sexual Activity under Article 182 of the Criminal Code of Serbia?
Milčić, Milica,
pp: 99-117
The aim of this paper is a detailed analysis of the criminal offense of unlawful sexual activity (Article 182 of the Criminal Code of Serbia) and the possibility of the existence of mistake of fact and mistake of law in this criminal offense. The criminal offense of unlawful sexual activity does not have an independent existence, so it is interpreted in the context of other criminal offenses to which the legal norm refers. In this sense, a parallel is drawn between unlawful sexual acts and the following criminal offenses: rape, sexual intercourse with a helpless person, sexual intercourse with a child and sexual intercourse by abuse of position. Alongside the presentation of these criminal offenses, the question arises as to whether mistake of fact or mistake of law can occur in these offenses. In this context, the concept and classification of misconception in criminal law are explained. Thus, the relationship between the criminal offense of unlawful sexual activity and the criminal offense of sexual harassment is examined. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding the existence of misconception in the criminal offense of unlawful sexual activity.
Reviews
Kolaković-Bojović, M. & Stevanović, I. (2025) Conference Proceedings of the National Scientific Conference “Expert Evidence in Criminal Proceedings”, Palić, 12–13 June 2025.
Marković, Maša,
pp: 119-121
