Arrests and investigations follow change of power in Serbia
Arrests, dismissals and new investigations follow Aleksandar Vučić’s election defeat.
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
In Serbia, arrests, dismissals and new investigations are following after a student-led movement won the election from President Aleksandar Vučić. The developments point to a rapid shift in power, but the formation of a new government has not yet been completed.
According to Associated Press, several senior officials have now been detained or investigated. They include Marko Kričak, the former head of the criminal police, and another senior police official. They are suspected of abuse of power in connection with a high-profile murder case; a judge has not yet established guilt.
Changes have also been reported within state institutions. The director of public broadcaster RTS has resigned. According to AP, the broadcaster in Novi Sad also apologised for selective and unprofessional reporting. AP also reports that old corruption cases are being reviewed and that there are indications those involved are trying to destroy evidence.
The student movement unexpectedly won the parliamentary elections at the end of October. As a result, Vučić, who was Serbia’s dominant political figure for years, lost his grip on the formation of a government. The result still needs to be processed further before a new parliament and cabinet can take office.
According to AP, Vučić denies involvement with criminal networks and says he is not afraid of possible arrest because there would be no evidence against him. It is unclear whether he himself will be designated a suspect.
The change of power stems from months of student protests against corruption and political influence over institutions. The protests gained additional momentum after the collapse of a station canopy in Novi Sad in 2024, in which sixteen people were killed. The students linked the tragedy to inadequate oversight and political responsibility.
For the European Union, Serbia is an important Balkan partner and candidate country. A new government will have to show whether investigations proceed independently, whether the opposition and media are given room, and whether relations with the EU and Russia change. No decision on that course had been taken by 3 November.
The situation therefore remains unstable. The arrests and dismissals are concrete developments, but it is still too early to establish whether they will lead to lasting reforms or mainly to a new power struggle within the Serbian state.
Also show where in Europe and in the world
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The student-led movement won the recent parliamentary elections from the power bloc around Aleksandar Vučić.
- After the elections, officials were detained, dismissals were reported and old corruption cases were reopened.
- The allegations against detained officials are not yet court convictions.
- Serbia is a candidate country for membership of the European Union.
Left
Arguments The change of power should be used to tackle corruption, political influence over the police and media, and impunity systematically. Independent institutions and public accountability matter more than administrative continuity.
Values Equality before the law, democratic oversight, public services and protection of civil rights.
Consequences A thorough purge may cause temporary administrative unrest, but without institutional reform the election victory remains superficial, according to this approach.
Centre
Arguments Investigations must proceed independently and according to established procedures, without the new majority using the same party-political instruments as its predecessors. Stability, the rule of law and an orderly formation of the government must be safeguarded alongside one another.
Values Institutional reliability, legal certainty and administrative continuity.
Consequences A gradual transition with verifiable reforms reduces the risk of retaliation and prevents the police, judiciary and media from once again being used for party-political ends.
Right
Arguments The new rulers must first restore order and governability and prevent arrests from turning into political score-settling. National sovereignty and a government that puts Serbia’s interests first must not become subordinate to pressure from the EU.
Values Order, national control, security and distrust of political purges.
Consequences Rapid prosecutions without convincing evidence could polarise society further and make investors and international partners uncertain; a strong executive could instead provide stability, according to this view.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The current arrests, dismissals and investigations are based on two public sources. The text distinguishes established procedural developments from political interpretation and unproven allegations.
- confirmed Arrests, dismissals and new investigations followed Vučić’s election defeat. — Reported by AP and N1 Srbija. source
- confirmed Marko Kričak was detained and is suspected of abuse of power. — AP mentions his detention and the suspicion; guilt has not been established. source
- confirmed The director of RTS resigned. — AP reports the resignation within the public broadcaster. source
- confirmed The student movement won the parliamentary elections. — AP describes the election victory and the subsequent change of power. source
- confirmed Sixteen people were killed in the collapse in Novi Sad. — The earlier tragedy and the death toll are mentioned in AP’s background report. source
Editor's note
The arrests, dismissals and investigations were reported by AP and summarised by N1. Allegations have been presented as suspicions; the eventual formation of the government and the consequences for EU policy remain uncertain.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- de Volkskrant — „servië aleksandar vučić”
- RTL Nieuws — „servië aleksandar vučić”
- NOS — „servië aleksandar vučić”