On 13 January 2026, the Basic Court in Vršac issued a judgment in proceedings brought by
Dragan Antić from Vršac against the Republic of Serbia [link judgement pdf].
The plaintiff was represented by attorney Prof. Dr. Srdan Aleksić from Niš – our ICBUW
partner in Serbia.
The proceedings concerned allegations that Serbian state authorities failed to undertake
adequate preventive protection measures and failed to properly inform the public about the
dangers and environmental contamination caused by depleted uranium following the 1999
NATO bombing campaign (violations of the right to information under Art.74 of the Serbian
Constitution)

The Court upheld the plaintiff’s claim and found violations of the plaintiff’s constitutional rights
(esp. right to life under Art. 24), including the right to compensation for non-material damage,
based on the argument that long-term exposure in a contaminated area contributed to the
development of cancer.

This was followed by a judgment of the Higher Court in Vršac, delivered on April 9, 2026,
which represents one of the most significant legal moments in the long-standing struggle for
the recognition of the consequences of the 1999 NATO bombing of Serbia with depleted
uranium ammunition – being in line with the landmark court ruling of Pancevo in March, 2025. The decision is not merely an individual legal victory for a citizen suffering from a serious illness, but also a powerful confirmation that justice, despite the passage of time and numerous obstacles, can still reach even the most difficult and sensitive cases of modern society.

In this ruling, the Court once again acknowledged the existence of a causal link between exposure to the consequences of depleted uranium contamination and the development of
severe malignant diseases. In doing so, the Court confirmed what affected citizens, their
families, physicians, and experts have been pointing out for more than two decades — that
the consequences of the war did not end with the cessation of the bombing, but continue to
leave profound effects on public health and the environment to this day.

The particular importance of this judgment lies in the fact that it is based on extensive
medical documentation, findings of independent experts, as well as national and international
scientific studies indicating the harmful effects of depleted uranium on human health. The
Court concluded that the connection between residence in contaminated areas and the later
development of malignant diseases is not a mere coincidence in time, but rather a serious
and legally relevant causal relationship requiring the protection of citizens’ rights and fair
compensation for damages.

This decision also carries a much broader social and historical significance. It gives hope to
thousands of people across Serbia who have lost their health, family members, or the
possibility of leading a normal life. For many families, this is the first time that a higher state
institution has clearly recognized their suffering and created space for the consequences of
the bombing to be discussed not only as a political or historical issue, but above all as a
matter of human rights, public health, and justice.

At the same time, the judgment from Vršac represents an important step toward future
international legal proceedings. Every final judgment by domestic courts confirming the
harmful consequences of the bombing further strengthens the legal foundation for potential
proceedings before international institutions. In this way, a path is gradually being built toward broader recognition of responsibility for the long-term consequences of the use of
depleted uranium ammunition.

Particularly significant in this process are the experiences of the Italian judiciary. Hundreds of
judgments rendered in favour of Italian soldiers who served in Kosovo and Metohija and
have been successfully represented by Italian lawyer Angelo Fiore Tartaglia have
demonstrated that it is possible to prove the connection between exposure to depleted
uranium and the development of serious illnesses. This judicial practice indicates an
important legal and moral support for the proceedings being conducted in Serbia, confirming
that truth and justice do not recognize national borders.

Lawyers Angelo Tartaglia (left) and Srdan Aleksic

The legal struggle being conducted before the courts is directed neither against Serbia nor
against the Serbian people. On the contrary, the purpose of these proceedings is to ensure
that Serbian citizens obtain the protection and compensation guaranteed to them by law. By
protecting its citizens, the state simultaneously acquires the right to seek reimbursement and
responsibility from the actual perpetrators of the damage.

For all these reasons, the judgment of the Higher Court in Vršac goes far beyond the
framework of a single court case. It represents a symbol of the struggle for truth, dignity, and
the right of people to know why they became ill and to receive justice for their suffering. This
judgment demonstrates that time cannot erase the consequences of war and that the search
for truth — no matter how long it may take — cannot be stopped when it is based on facts,
science, and faith in justice.

(Prof. Dr. Srdan Aleksic, ICBUW Steering Group)