The student-backed opposition movement defeated the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in the October 25 parliamentary election, ending 14 years of SNS rule. Following this defeat, Serbian institutions have begun acting before the new parliament and government have even been formed. On November 1, authorities arrested two senior police officials, Marko Kricak and Bosko Sekulovic. Kricak serves as the head of the Criminal Police Directorate, while Sekulovic leads the Crime Suppression Service. Both officials face suspicion of abuse of official position in connection with a murder that occurred at a restaurant in the Belgrade neighborhood of Senjak in May. Kricak, who became a notorious figure during the student protests, also faces suspicion of abuse and torture of a man questioned at police headquarters. This follows the accusation by student Nikolina Sindelic that Kricak physically abused her and threatened to rape her while she was being detained in August 2025. Both officials were ordered into custody for up to 30 days to prevent them from influencing witnesses. This sudden flurry of activity is striking for a country where critics long accused the police, prosecutors, and judiciary of being politically controlled or unwilling to investigate those close to the ruling establishment.
Presidential pardons and court lists
Higher Courts in Belgrade and Novi Sad published lists on November 2 identifying the beneficiaries of presidential pardons. These pardons were issued by former president Aleksandar Vucic on September 27, the day his presidential mandate ended. Vucic stated that 23 of the 49 people who received pardons were connected to the events surrounding the student protests. The publication of the names followed a request by the organized crime prosecutor’s office for information about the pardons, suggesting that prosecutors are now urgently seeking to investigate decisions taken by the previous administration. The lists include Dijana Hrkalovic, a former senior Interior Ministry official facing charges of influence peddling. The names also include a man accused of ramming his car into student Sonja Ponjavic in Belgrade and four men accused of attacking protesters in Novi Sad.
| Official or Individual | Role or Context | Related Allegation |
|---|---|---|
| Marko Kricak | Head of Criminal Police Directorate | Abuse of position; alleged abuse of Nikolina Sindelic |
| Bosko Sekulovic | Head of Crime Suppression Service | Abuse of official position |
| Dijana Hrkalovic | Former senior Interior Ministry official | Influence peddling |
| Sonja Ponjavic | Student | Victim of car ramming |
Ongoing investigations and judicial reviews
Investigators are moving on several fronts following the election. There are signs of renewed activity in investigations into the alleged wiretapping of protest activists and the November 2024 collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad. That trial, which follows the deaths of 16 people, has been on hold for the last two years. To prevent the possible destruction of official documents, authorities have also initiated a review of all 87 prosecutor’s offices across Serbia. These developments occur as the new parliament and government have yet to be formed. Additionally, Serbia shut the bank of a businessman close to the ousted ruling party. Prosecutors and courts are moving on cases involving senior officials and alleged abuses under the outgoing administration. For years, critics accused state institutions of failing to pursue allegations involving politically connected figures. The election changed the political climate overnight, and state institutions are now under pressure to do their jobs.
