A regional two-day conference on the use of encrypted communication as evidence in criminal proceedings, organised by the joint action of the European Union and the Council of Europe “Strengthening human rights protection in Serbia”, the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs within the US Embassy in Belgrade, OSCE Mission to Serbia and the Council of Europe project “Preventing Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in Serbia” supported by Swedish Development Cooperation Agency, will start on Thursday, 18 April 2024 at 09:30h in Metropol Palace Hotel in Belgrade.

The conference will be opened by:

• Christopher Hill, the US Ambassador to Serbia
• Emanuele Giaufret, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of European Union to Serbia
• Jan Braathu, Ambassador and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia
• János Babity, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade

Keynote speeches will be delivered by representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office and the Bar Association of Serbia.

The event aims to provide a comparative overview of the relevant laws and practices and facilitate an exchange of experiences among criminal law expert community. The event participants will discuss the legal aspects of law enforcement operations that lead to acquisition of data from encrypted messaging services, the use of such data as evidence in criminal proceedings and the application of fair trial guarantees in the context of prosecutions based on this kind of evidence.

Journalists are invited to attend the opening session of the conference on Thursday, 18 April 2024 from 9:30 to 10:30 in Metropol Palace Hotel, Ivo Andrić B conference room (address: Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 69).       

Simultaneous English/Serbian interpretation will be provided.

 Programme of the conference

For more information please contact:

Marija Simić, Council of Europe  [email protected]  +381 63 601 337

Ivana Milatović, OSCE  [email protected]  +381 63 251 778

Sandra Petrović, US Embassy  [email protected]   +381 65 30 63 649