The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade has declared that it has mandated the confiscation of documentation linked to contributions from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) pertaining to four non-governmental organizations in Serbia. This includes interviews with responsible individuals from those NGOs concerning the utilization of donated funds.

The declaration indicates that, upon the request of the VJP, law enforcement began collecting information this morning about the operations of the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), Civic Initiatives, the Center for Practical Politics, and the Trag Foundation.

Chief Public Prosecutor Nenad Stefanović stated, “The Special Department for Combating Corruption of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade has put forth requests to the National Bank of Serbia and the Anti-Money Laundering Administration, to investigate the financial activities of the NGOs mentioned.”

He further elaborated that the VJT has reached out to the US Department of Justice for information following “suspicions” highlighted by senior officials in the country concerning potential fund misuse, money laundering, and improper allocation of US taxpayer dollars in Serbia.

Stefanović pointed out that American officials have referenced specific non-governmental organizations and US contractors awarded projects in Serbia.

“Concerns regarding USAID’s operations have been raised by figures such as US President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Spokesperson Caroline Levitt, the US Department of Government Efficiency under Elon Musk’s direction, and FBI Director Kesha Patel,” stated Stefanović.

He noted that a letter requesting assistance was sent to the US Department of Justice through international legal aid channels via the Serbian Ministry of Justice.

According to Stefanović, the request stems from the fact that oversight of USAID fund distribution and expenditure is not routinely accessible to the prosecution. It is up to USAID to decide which information to provide, only after the prosecution demonstrates credible allegations of irregularities and laundering.

Furthermore, he added that the letter was initiated for a pre-investigation process organized by the Special Department for Suppression of Corruption of the Public Prosecutor’s Office to explore possible elements of the crimes of Abuse of Position of Responsible Person and Money Laundering against currently unidentified individuals.

He noted, “The significant accumulation of funds in the accounts of several NGOs or associated consulting firms, coupled with the opaque allocation to a select group of NGOs and inadequate financial reporting, raises questions about the legitimacy of USAID fund usage.”

The US Department of Justice has been asked to assist in procuring evidence, offering expertise, and providing financial, economic, and transaction records regarding the suspected criminal activities in Serbia.

“Simultaneously, due to the seriousness of the allegations, and to verify these claims and gather evidence of potential misuse of USAID funds, the Special Department for Combating Corruption has requested police intervention to ascertain whether there are grounds for suspicion of criminal activities under its jurisdiction,” said the Chief Public Prosecutor.

SSP: Vučić’s Retaliation

The Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) condemned “the disgraceful intrusion of Ministry of Interior officials into the offices of non-governmental organizations,” proclaiming to “the orchestrator of this action, Aleksandar Vučić, that those advocating for freedom and justice cannot be subdued by escalating oppression.”

The SSP stated that the police raids on CRTA, Civic Initiatives, and other NGOs were Vučić’s retaliation for exiting all governmental working groups, recognizing that the regime continues to threaten democracy.

As protests mount, led by students advocating for accountability, the Vučić regime targets the civil sector, which has openly opposed the continuation of a reform agenda promised to European partners.

They emphasized that the evidence of targeted intimidation is clear, as detailed information on these legal actions was first released by regime-affiliated tabloids, leading to a prosecution claim based solely on these organizations being funded by USAID.

“If the investigation were genuinely focused on USAID funding, police would have searched multiple ministries that have received substantial donations from USAID, and PM Ana Brnabić, who publicly thanked them, would need to provide explanations,” the statement concluded.

Dojčinović: Clearly a Setup

KRIK editor Stevan Dojčinović asserted that Serbia’s police action against four NGOs marks a significant shift towards a dictatorship akin to Belarus, concluding that “everything appears to be orchestrated” from Prosecutor Stefanović’s comments.

Dojčinović remarked on the visibly anxious demeanor of Stefanović at the press conference, suggesting that the prosecutor likely sensed he was on a path leading nowhere.

“Once those corrupt officials are out of power, they will be held accountable for these fabricated claims,” stated the KRIK editor, noting the apparent artificiality of the investigation as articulated by Stefanović.

Dojčinović argued that the investigation into USAID funding was initiated by Serbian authorities, not at the request of the US, spotlighting that evidence of this investigation was rooted in public comments from American officials.

He criticized the premise of linking supposed criminal infractions to legitimate, transparent USAID funding transactions, suggesting there is no legitimate foundation for suspicion of money laundering.

DS: Escalation of Repression

The Democratic Party (DS) articulated that today’s police scrutiny of Belgrade’s NGOs signifies an “increase in repression” and a “retribution against regime critics.”

In their statement, they claimed that the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office exploited a contrived rationale to silence dissent that threatens the unrestrained dominance of the Serbian Progressive Party and Aleksandar Vučić.

The DS indicated that it was not coincidental that the targets of this retaliatory act included CRTA and Civic Initiatives, as they have vocally opposed the regime and aligned themselves with the populace during protests, exposing government corruption.

The irony, they noted, lays within the regime that appointed Ana Brnabić, who was previously president of the NALED board, an NGO funded by USAID, now questioning the integrity of USAID funding.

Furthermore, they posited it is necessary to counter this growing repression by forming a united front of diverse organizations and individuals, working collectively to restore rule of law and uphold human rights for all Serbian citizens.

PZP: Cease Intimidation

The Movement for Overturning (PZP) expressed condemnation of the police raids against several NGOs, demanding that the government halt intimidation, as it represents an institutional abuse of power.

The movement viewed the actions against NGOs as part of a prolonged campaign of civil society harassment, drawing parallels with similar tactics employed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

PZP asserted that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić employs intimidating measures to undermine civil society in a manner that suggests paranoia concerning alleged color revolution orchestrators in Serbia.

Ecological Uprising: Investigate USAID Contributions to Government

The Ecological Uprising Movement requested Prosecutor Stefanović to extend his investigation mandate to include all documentation regarding USAID contributions to the Serbian government, mirroring the scrutiny faced by NGOs like Crta and Civic Initiatives.

The movement urged the Prosecutor’s Office to interrogate ministers about how donated funds were utilized, the established processes for channeling USAID contributions, and the obligations to inform donors of expenditures.

“We insist that this order also target Ana Brnabić, who previously worked with American consulting firms on USAID-funded projects,” the movement asserted.

They highlighted Minister for European Integration Tanja Miščević’s previous statement indicating that the US had invested approximately €1.2 billion in Serbia since 2001.

“Equality before the law must be upheld; if NGOs are scrutinized, so must state institutions,” concluded the Ecological Uprising.

ZLF: Investigate Government and Ministries

The Green Left Front (ZLF) expressed anticipation for police and the Security and Intelligence Agency (BIA) to conduct searches across the Serbian Government, Parliament, and all ministries that have received USAID funding.

“Thankfully, Ana Brnabić removed the (USAID) logo from the National Assembly website. Some weren’t as diligent,” the party remarked on their social media account.

Institute for European Affairs: Most US Aid Went to Serbian Budget

From 2000 to present, the US has provided over a billion dollars in development assistance to Serbia, with the majority funneling into the Serbian budget via USAID and other American agencies, according to the Institute for European Affairs.

During the 2000 to 2012 period, American aid was pivotal for Serbia’s economic stability, aiding in rebuilding the energy system disrupted by sanctions, developing the banking system, and ensuring budgetary transfers for salaries and social benefits.

Since 2012, the redirected aid has focused on sector-specific reforms particularly in public administration, justice, and security, yet the prevailing structure remains, routing funds predominantly to the Serbian budget compliant with political governance.

Between 2012 and 2020, the US allocated approximately 110,330,310 dollars to Serbia, highlighting that in 2020 alone, significant portions funded the government’s e-Health initiative, law enforcement training, criminal justice reform, and anti-corruption efforts.

The Institute also noted that details regarding US assistance from 2021 onward are scarce on the Serbian government’s official international assistance database, although expectations point to continued support at a comparable level.

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