BELGRADE – The Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić, is facing accusations of improperly influencing ongoing criminal investigations, leveled by the country’s specialized anti-corruption and organized crime prosecution office.
The accusations stem from President Vučić’s recent public criticism of the judiciary. In a televised interview, he described public prosecutors as a “corrupt gang,” blaming them for hindering a hotel development project on the site of the former Yugoslav Army headquarters, which was destroyed during the war, in central Belgrade. The President alleged that criminal investigations into the project were the cause of the delays.
In a joint statement, the prosecutors asserted that President Vučić’s statements were “abusive” and that he had exceeded his constitutional and legal authority. They further claimed that he was attempting to exert undue and unlawful influence on the judicial process by commenting on ongoing criminal investigations.
These allegations come at a time when President Vučić is already facing protests against his government, with demonstrators accusing it of corruption and a lack of public concern. The President has recently intensified his attacks on judges and prosecutors, including those investigating the 2024 Novi Sad train station roof collapse, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people. This incident has become a symbol of widespread corruption in Serbia.
The 2024 train station collapse triggered a wave of protests demanding investigations into officials responsible for negligence in public infrastructure projects. This crisis unfolded shortly after the European Commission released its report on Serbia’s progress towards EU membership. The report urged Belgrade authorities to reduce political interference in the work of the judiciary and public prosecution. The European Union has repeatedly expressed concern over the interference of authorities in the Serbian judicial system, warning of a lack of oversight from institutions responsible for impartiality and transparency.
