PART TWO
HUMAN AND MINORITY RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

1. Fundamental Principles

Right to a fair trial
Article 32

Everyone shall be guaranteed the right to free assistance of an interpreter if the person does not speak or understand the language officially used in the court and the right to free assistance of an interpreter if the person is blind, deaf, or dumb.

PART TWO
HUMAN AND MINORITY RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS

1. Fundamental Principles

Special rights of persons charged with criminal offense
Article 33

Any person charged with criminal offense shall have the right to be informed promptly, in accordance with the law, in the language which this person understands and in detail about the nature and cause of the accusation against him, as well as the evidence against him.

Part One
GENERAL PART

Chapter I
BASIC PROVISIONS

The Language and Script Used in Proceedings

Article 11

The Serbian language and the Cyrillic script are in official use in proceedings, and other languages and scripts are in official use in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

Proceedings are conducted in the language and script in official use in the authority conducting proceedings, in accordance with the law.

Parties, witnesses and other persons participating in proceedings are entitled to use their own languages and scripts during proceedings, and, where proceedings are not being conducted in their language and unless, after being advised on their right to translation, they declare that they know the language in which the proceedings are being conducted and that they waive their right to translation, the interpretation of what they or others are saying, as well as translation of instruments and other written evidence, are secured and paid from budget funds.

Translation and interpretation is entrusted to a translator.

Part One
GENERAL PART

Chapter VI
THE DEFENDANT AND DEFENCE COUNSEL

1 The Defendant

The Defendant’s Rights
Article 68

The defendant is entitled :

1) to be informed in the shortest possible time, and always before the first interrogation, in detail and in a language he understands, about the charges against him, the nature and grounds of the accusation, as well as that everything he says may be used as evidence in proceedings ;

Part One
GENERAL PART

Chapter VII
EVIDENCE

2. Evidentiary Actions

a) Interrogation of the Defendant

Interrogation through an Interpreter or Translator
Article 87

If a defendant is deaf, he will be questioned in writing, if the defendant is mute, he will be invited to reply in writing and if he is blind, the contents of written evidence will be presented to him orally. If the interrogation cannot be conducted in this manner, a person capable of communicating with the defendant will be invited to serve as an interpreter.

If the defendant does not understand the language of the proceedings, he will be asked questions through a translator.

If the interpreter or translator was has not been sworn in previously, he will swear that he will faithfully communicate the questions asked of the defendant and the statements he makes.
The provisions of this Code relating to expert witnesses apply accordingly to interpreters and translators.

I BASIC PROVISIONS

Official Communications with the International Criminal Court

Article 6

State authorities shall officially communicate with the International Criminal Court in Serbian or in one of the official languages of the International Criminal Court, with translation into Serbian, unless otherwise decided by the Government.