Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković has been accused, along with three others, of abuse of office and falsification of official documents in the “General Staff” case. As part of the investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime, their mobile phones and communications were examined, and we reveal the details here.
According to the indictment proposal by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime, the accused include current Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković, directors of the Republic and City Institutes for the Protection of Cultural Monuments Goran Vasić and Aleksandar Ivanović, as well as the Ministry of Culture secretary Slavica Jelača. The four are accused of acting contrary to the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Serbia from mid-May to the end of November 2024, exceeding their official authority and causing damage to Serbia’s cultural heritage. Their illegal actions allegedly aimed to remove the cultural heritage designation from the General Staff building to make way for a luxury hotel.
As previously reported, the accused met in person regarding the execution of the criminal act but also discussed certain matters via SMS, Viber, and WhatsApp messages.
On November 17, 2024, at 11:29:38, the accused Ivanović wrote via Viber to Vasić: “Estela on N1 five minutes ago says that your RZ was not involved in removing protection from the General Staff.” (Estela here refers to Estela Radonjić Živkov, deputy director of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Monuments in Belgrade, who was later relieved of her position at her request and has the status of a witness in this case.)
Vasić replied at 11:33:49: “Without my consent…”
At 11:34:11, Vasić asked Ivanović: “Can we talk here?” to which Ivanović responded at 11:34:39: “Of course.”
An hour later, the two continued their conversation via WhatsApp. Ivanović sent Vasić a link to a website containing controversial government decisions regarding the General Staff. A minute later, he sent another message:
“Here is the Decision from the Official Gazette on the amendment for the area around Kneza Miloša Street. I don’t know who prepared this.”
Minutes later, Ivanović sent Vasić another link with controversial decisions and added: “And here is the Decision on the cessation of KD status for the General Staff buildings.”
At 12:24:56, he wrote: “So, two Decisions were published in the Official Gazette.”
Vasić replied: “Yes, I saw that.”
Ivanović: “One is about the cessation of KD status – and we know that, and you and I participated on behalf of the institutions that day at the Ministry in July. The other is the Decision on the amendment for the area around Kneza Miloša Street – I don’t know anything about that, it was done without us/me.”
Vasić: “Yes…”
Minister Selaković called an employee “Ustaša”
On the same day, November 17, 2024, at 10:27:27, Minister Nikola Selaković sent Vasić a photo showing a close-up from an N1 TV report featuring Estela Radonjić Živkov.
Shortly after, at 10:28:06, Selaković wrote: “I assume she didn’t ask for permission to speak publicly.”
Vasić replied at 10:28:34: “Of course not.”
At 10:29:04, Vasić added: “She is the biggest problem,” to which Selaković responded at 10:31:08: “See you Tuesday, we’ll talk then.”
Immediately after, at 10:32:05, Selaković concluded: “Just don’t react hastily.”
The following day, Selaković sent Vasić a link to a news article on Nova srpska politička misao about the employees’ request for the government to withdraw controversial General Staff decisions.
Vasić replied: “I see…” Two minutes later, he asked: “Do I need to respond to this? Other than that it was done without consultation and consent?”
He then asked: “What are the next steps?”
Selaković answered at 22:10:41: “No response needed. I sent it so you could see. You need to see who led it. Tomorrow we’ll meet and discuss it.”
Vasić responded at 22:11:08: “I already checked, Estela.”
Selaković concluded at 22:11:32: “Serious Ustaša.”
Trial set for February 4
The trial of Nikola Selaković and three other defendants is scheduled for February 4 at 10:00 at the Special Court in Belgrade.
In the “General Staff” case, the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime is conducting an abbreviated procedure, which is why an indictment proposal, rather than a formal indictment, was filed. As a result, the main hearing was scheduled immediately, meaning the trial will begin without a preparatory hearing, which is legally closed to the public.
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Source: Nova, Foto : Anđelko Vasiljević