Serbia Sees Wave of Detentions and Resignations After Vucic Election Loss

BELGRADE. The days following the Oct. 25 election have brought rapid changes to Serbia, marked by arrests, bank closures, and internal disputes. Former Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic lost the parliamentary ballot to a student-led movement, triggering what many observers describe as a collapse of his long-standing political system. The Students' List has not yet formally taken control of government agencies, security forces, or the military. However, the shift in power has accelerated events before the official handover.

Police have detained several senior officials in connection with alleged misconduct. Marko Kricak, Vucic’s chief of criminal police, and another senior police official were jailed for suspected abuse of office in a high-profile murder case. Kricak had previously faced accusations of threatening a female student during protests, though he was not detained for those specific claims. On Monday, authorities also arrested Davor Macura, owner of Alta Bank. His bank lost its license, and prosecutors say he attempted to remove millions of dollars from its vault.

New complaints are flooding the prosecutor’s office. These range from suspected election fraud to violence against journalists and activists. Organized crime prosecutors have begun checking if some individuals were under illegal surveillance. On Monday, lawyer Ivan Ninic alleged a criminal conspiracy involving a justice ministry official and more than 30 prison wardens. He claimed they pressured or bribed inmates to vote for Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party. Ninic presented chat screenshots showing officials exchanging vote counts, noting that the party won overwhelmingly in prisons.

In Mali Zvornik, near the Bosnian border, police detained six people accused of giving false residence papers to Bosnian citizens to help them vote for Vucic’s party. The Higher Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade issued a statement on Tuesday complaining of an atmosphere of persecution. It cited open political pressure from social and political actors aimed at forcing resignations and noted that the European Union mission and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe were informed.

Media outlets that once supported Vucic are adjusting their stances. State television RTS changed its leadership and apologized to viewers for unprofessional reporting. Some channels canceled programs, and owners reportedly left the country. However, broadcasters Informer and Pink remain loyal to Vucic, who appears in their programs daily. Vucic told Pink TV on Sunday evening that he is ready for anything and will persist. He denied having evidence against him, saying, “I don’t sign anything … and nothing will be found. They don’t have anything.”

Calls are growing for early municipal elections since the recent vote only covered the 250-member parliament. Vucic’s party lost in Belgrade and most other towns, where it previously held power in nearly every village. Employees in schools, museums, and hospitals across Serbia are demanding the removal of managers appointed by the party. In Belgrade, Fifth High School principal Ognjen Mrvaljevic denied throwing away school documentation, telling N1 television he was removing unnecessary papers. Analyst Slobodan Stupar said the party’s expiration date has passed and predicted further resignations.