LACKED CONSTRUCTION AND USAGE PERMITS: Nursing home in Barajevo licensed despite failing to meet requirements! (PHOTO)

Eight residents of the “Ivanović” nursing home in Veliki Borko, located in the Belgrade municipality of Barajevo, perished in a fire that broke out in a section of the building constructed without a building permit, according to cadastral records. While the official records list a structure of 169 square meters at the property on Nadežda Petrović Street 7, the actual area was approximately 450 square meters. Besides lacking a building permit, the facility also did not have a usage permit, raising serious questions about how it obtained a license.

The majority of the home, including the area where the fatalities occurred, was built without proper permits. Even the “legal” 169-square-meter section lacked a usage permit, as evidenced by publicly available cadastral data.

Despite these deficiencies, the “Ivanović” nursing home was inexplicably licensed to operate by the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Veterans, and Social Affairs in 2021, under then-Minister Darija Kisić Tepavčević.

Legal and Regulatory Violations

Attorney Ivan Simić highlighted the illegality of the home’s operations:
“A facility without a usage permit cannot operate—end of story. Without this fundamental compliance, no further procedures can occur. Social care facilities, like nursing homes, must meet the highest standards, yet this one didn’t even have a usage permit, as shown in cadastral records, which are reliable. Such blatant violations suggest more than mere ignorance or incompetence; systemic corruption is a likely factor.”

Simić noted that legal breaches have become widespread in Serbia, with the most egregious cases, like this one, coming to light only after fatalities:
“This isn’t the first or last time something like this happens. Our legal system seems to permit anything. We’ve seen similar examples, like the demolition in Novi Sad, and now we’re facing a situation where it’s unclear who granted a license to a facility without proper permits. This reflects systemic corruption and dysfunction at multiple levels of governance.”

Arrests and Financial Irregularities

Three individuals connected to the tragedy—Aleksandar Ivanović (52), his wife Gorica (52), and their son Miloš (29)—have been arrested. Aleksandar, a former police inspector in Barajevo, is suspected of using his position to secure permits despite the facility’s non-compliance. They are charged with a serious crime against public safety, which carries a sentence of 2 to 12 years in prison.

For over a decade, the Ivanović family has operated nursing homes through three companies, all currently blocked due to debts amounting to 17 million dinars. Despite being in financial disarray since 2020, the nursing home continued operating, raising further questions about regulatory oversight. No evidence suggests inspections by tax authorities or financial regulators.

PROČITAJTE VIŠE:

Fire and Safety Concerns

The fire, officially reported at 3:30 a.m. on Monday, originated in an illegally built section housing mobile residents. By the time firefighters arrived at 3:43 a.m., the blaze had already engulfed the roof, which later collapsed. Thirteen residents were rescued, but eight died, and seven were injured, with four hospitalized at the Military Medical Academy and three at the Emergency Center.

Reports suggest the fire was caused by a resident with psychological issues, who allegedly set a mattress on fire in a suicide attempt. This individual, who had previously escaped but was returned to the facility, should not have been housed alongside other residents. Serbian law allows private institutions to accommodate such individuals, but stricter conditions must be met, including specialized care to prevent such incidents.

Questions About Licensing

Current Minister Nemanja Starović has announced an investigation into how the nursing home was licensed despite its obvious deficiencies. Issues include the lack of fire detection systems, inadequate access roads complicating rescue efforts, and failure to meet basic safety standards.

This tragic event underscores systemic failures in Serbia’s regulatory framework, particularly in construction, social care, and public safety. The investigation continues as authorities work to prevent similar incidents in the future.