Judicial changes in Serbia began after the victory of the Student List over the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in the parliamentary elections on October 25. This victory ended 14 years of dominance by Aleksandar Vučić and his party over the country's political scene.
Arrests and Investigations into Old Cases
In the wake of these political changes, the judicial system of Serbia has quickly addressed pending cases and unresolved investigations. Numerous arrests and the initiation of new investigations are rapidly underway. These actions are somewhat a response to the demands of students and representatives of the new political majority who are calling for justice and accountability for the corruption of past years.
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Controversial Flight and Close Ties with Moscow
In a controversial incident, flight JU134 of Air Serbia from Belgrade to Moscow on November 3 was returned to Belgrade due to the boarding of one of the passengers, Aleksandar Vulin, former Minister of Defense and former head of the Serbian Security Information Agency, without undergoing security procedures. Vulin is under U.S. sanctions due to close ties with Moscow and corruption allegations.
This comes as other passengers on this flight, including two other high-ranking officials, are also accused of corruption and abuse of power. This issue highlights serious challenges in establishing an independent and effective judicial system in Serbia.
Following the elections, new arrests related to electoral violations and financial corruption have begun. Among them is the arrest of Davor Mačura, owner of Altai Bank, on charges of illegal access to the bank's treasury and withdrawing an amount equivalent to 383 million euros. These cases reflect new efforts to hold accountable the corruption of previous governments.
Pressure on Judicial Institutions
New parliamentary representatives and student activists are calling for investigations into unresolved corruption cases and the establishment of justice. Tanjir Arsić, a new representative from the Student List, stated that no one should be above the law and that judicial institutions and courts must fulfill their duties.
However, the question remains whether the judicial institutions are truly capable of investigating and holding accountable those who have been at the highest levels of the country's political structure. Former President Aleksandar Vučić has also stated that he fears nothing and that there will be no evidence of his financial misconduct.
