Rad Baich, a member of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Serbia for organized crime, has become the target of a spying attack with Pegasus software while investigating corruption related to the Trump real estate project in Belgrade. This issue was revealed following his statements about political interference and abuse of power, particularly concerning the Trump Tower project, on Monday.
Revelation of Abuse of Pegasus Software
New research conducted by the University of Toronto and the SHARE Foundation in Serbia shows that Baich received an Apple threat alert on August 13. This revelation comes as the Trump Tower project, linked to Jared Kushner, son-in-law of the former President of the United States, faces serious allegations of political interference and violations related to cultural heritage status.
Expansion of Espionage in Serbia
Baich is the latest known figure in this espionage scandal, which includes 14 individuals, including student activists and opposition figures. In September, it was revealed that some of these individuals had received warnings about the possibility of being targeted with spyware. Researchers from the University of Toronto have also confirmed the presence of Pegasus infection in one case.
Andrijana Ristic, policy advisor at the SHARE Foundation, stated that digital espionage in Serbia has continuously expanded from civil society and journalists to student activists and academic and judicial representatives. She added that this escalation is fueled by a sense of impunity and government inaction in cases where criminal complaints have been filed.
Vladan Jokic, the president of the University of Belgrade, is also recognized as another prominent figure in this scandal whose phone has been infected with Pegasus. Jokic has become a prominent figure in protest movements due to his refusal to facilitate the suppression of protesting students and has faced continuous pressure from authorities.
The identity of those responsible for using Pegasus against Baich and Jokic has not yet been determined. John Scott-Raiton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, stated that Pegasus is a tool for repression, and those who stand against corruption continue to be targeted for attacks.
