War Crimes Investigation Service Members Complete Specialized Training on Witness and Suspect Interrogation Techniques

Members of the War Crimes Investigation Service of the Ministry of Interior have succesfully completed a specialized, two-day training course focused on the interrogation of witnesses, victims and suspects in war crimes cases on 28-29 October, in Belgrade. The interactive seminar was led by two experts from Bosnia and Herzegovina, a prosecutorial investigator with over 30 years' experience and a psychologist with extensive experience as victim support officer.

The training focused on improving skills and knowledge particularly about the psychology of interviewing, advancing interrogation techniques, the analysis of witness statements, and effective methods for interviewing both suspects and insider witnesses.

A full day of the seminar was dedicated to understanding the impact of trauma, preventing repeated and secondary victimization, and strategies to mitigate professional burnout. The training features real-life examples from investigative work, interactive role-playing exercises, and self-assessment activities, providing participants with hands-on experience tailored to their varying levels of expertise within the Service.

The event was made possible through the support of the “EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans” project, implemented by UNDP, and the multi-donor “Facility Supporting Strengthening Rule of Law in the Republic of Serbia.” The latter is co-financed by the EU, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC), and implemented by the OSCE Mission to Serbia.

This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of international and local partners to strengthening the rule of law and enhancing the capacity of the War Crimes Investigation Service in Serbia.