The Austrian daily newspaper Der Standard assessed that the reputation of the Serbian police has been seriously damaged, both due to alleged ties between certain officers and organized crime, and because of their treatment of participants in protests against the government of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
In its article, the newspaper refers to the investigation into the murder in a restaurant in Senjak and states that the main suspect, Saša V., known by the nickname Boske, has been identified as a member of a criminal organization. According to Der Standard, he was involved in an incident at a Belgrade restaurant in November of last year when, according to reports, he used a firearm.
According to the Austrian newspaper, police officers who first arrived at the scene allegedly pressured colleagues not to involve specialized investigators, not to collect evidence, and to present the case as an ordinary bar fight without involving the prosecutor’s office. It is also claimed that the use of a firearm was not recorded in official reports.
“Suspect Saša V. was quite obviously protected by the police. This is only one of many scandals currently undermining trust in Serbia’s executive authorities,” Der Standard states.
The daily further assesses that certain parts of the Serbian police maintain close ties with organized criminal groups and protect certain individuals from criminal prosecution.
The article also recalls the police’s treatment of demonstrators during protests held in previous years. Der Standard states that, according to critics of the government, incidents and excessive use of force against protesters have occurred on multiple occasions.
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At the same time, the newspaper writes that police officers who refuse to act for political purposes and insist on professional conduct are also under pressure. As an example, it cites the case of Special Anti-Terrorist Unit commander Spasoje Vulević, whom Belgrade media claim retired after refusing to allow his unit to be deployed against demonstrators.
Der Standard emphasizes that the alleged links between organized crime and structures close to the government have been a topic of public discussion for years.
The Austrian newspaper also recalls the recent incident involving an aircraft from Belgrade that arrived in Tivat ahead of a summit. According to the newspaper, some of the passengers were individuals whom Montenegrin authorities considered security risks, which led to their removal from the country.
The article further states that the Serbian security service allegedly advised President Vučić not to travel to Tivat because of potential security risks.
At the end of the article, Der Standard assesses that the authorities often portray the President of Serbia as a potential target of attacks, which, according to the newspaper, is used to strengthen political support and dismiss criticism.
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Source: N1 Foto: Canva