Serbian Power Shift: Police Chief and Bank Owner Face Arrests

Two senior police officials were arrested in Serbia on November 1, marking a sharp escalation in the post-election crackdown on former allies of ousted leader Aleksandar Vucic. Marko Kricak, who headed the Criminal Police Directorate, and Bosko Sekulovic, a commander focused on organized crime, were taken into custody. The arrests stem from an investigation into a murder case from May that originally involved Veselin Milic, the former police chief of Belgrade.

Kricak had received decorations from Vucic and faced prior allegations of brutality during anti-government demonstrations. Prosecutors stated that his detention is unrelated to the October 25 election win by the Student List, though the timing has drawn scrutiny. The move follows a broader wave of institutional changes that began immediately after the parliamentary vote.

In the financial sector, Davor Macura, the owner of Alta Bank, was arrested in Belgrade on November 2. He is scheduled to be questioned by the Organized Crime Prosecutor's office. The National Bank of Serbia revoked Alta Bank's license on October 30, citing a deterioration in the institution's financial condition. Macura holds strong ties to the previous government, and the bank served several large state-owned enterprises as well as Russian-owned entities. The parent company previously told journalists that the European Central Bank closed its money laundering probe in 2025 without finding wrongdoing.

Changes have also rippled through public media. Manja Grcic, the director of Radio Television of Serbia, resigned on October 28 after dismissing the head of the news department. The station issued an apology to viewers for content omitted during the previous period. In Novi Sad, Goran Karadzic, general manager of Radio Television of Vojvodina, resigned on October 26. This was followed by the resignation of editor-in-chief Nenad Cacic on October 30. That broadcaster opened its evening news with an apology for not performing its function for many years.

In the education sector, Radivoje P. Stojkovic, the principal of Jovina High School in Novi Sad, was arrested on October 28. Stojkovic, a prominent Vucic supporter, was detained after refusing a court order to reinstate four suspended teachers. The school, which has more than 1,000 students, had suspended the staff in May over alleged manipulation of students during mass protests. Vucic had previously backed Stojkovic against the suspension decisions.

Public spaces are also seeing a return to normalcy. Pioneers' Park, located next to the parliament building, has been reopened to the public. A pro-government encampment that occupied the site since March 2025 was dismantled shortly after the election results were announced. Ksenija, a local resident, described the process of cleaning the park as involving both cleaning and crying.

The cultural sector is also preparing for a revival. Exit, one of Europe's largest music festivals, announced on Instagram that it will return to its founding city of Novi Sad in July 2027. The post, which generated over 100,000 reactions, promised an event celebrating freedom, unity, and love, with a full-scale festival planned for the following year. The festival left Serbia in 2025, citing undemocratic pressures linked to its support for the student protest movement.