The Serbian daily Danas says it has come under political and media attacks after publishing an article questioning why the military unit known as the Cobras continues to provide security for Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Miloš Vučević.
The article raised the issue of why the elite military unit is still assigned to guard Vučević. Following its publication, several pro-government media outlets and political figures accused the newspaper of endangering the politician’s safety and running a campaign to have his security withdrawn.
Pro-government tabloid Informer claimed that Danas journalists had monitored Vučević’s family and security arrangements, including cameras and the number of guards protecting his residence. Danas rejected the accusations as false, stating that no one from the newsroom followed Vučević or his family.
The author of the report lives near the building where Vučević resides and said the observations mentioned in the article were based on everyday sightings from the neighborhood. The newspaper said the story was written in the public interest, focusing on how public funds are used and whether members of the Serbian Armed Forces are being improperly assigned to protect a political figure.
According to Danas, its journalist was briefly stopped and questioned by a military police officer while working on the story. The officer reportedly restricted the reporter’s movement with the intention of detaining him, but later released him after receiving instructions from superiors.
Following the publication, several officials and public figures criticized the newspaper on social media. Milenko Jovanov, head of the SNS parliamentary group, posted on X accusing Danas of targeting Vučević, while Serbia’s Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović said the report amounted to a campaign to remove the politician’s protection.
Marketing consultant Nebojša Krstić went further, calling on authorities to arrest the journalist who wrote the story, suggesting the reporting could help potential attackers.
Vučević himself also responded on X, stating that he does not decide who provides his security and has never requested privileges. He said such decisions are made by competent state institutions based on security assessments and legal procedures.
The SNS leader accused the newspaper of attempting to fabricate a scandal and using members of the Cobra unit for political attacks. He added that the soldiers perform their duties professionally and that criticizing their work shows disrespect for state institutions.
Danas attempted to contact Vučević for comment but said he did not respond to phone calls or messages.
Former head of Serbia’s Military Security Agency Momir Stojanović told Danas that the article does not contain elements of any criminal offense and instead documents potentially unlawful practices. According to him, Vučević, as an adviser to the president and party leader, does not fall into the category of officials who should receive military protection.
Stojanović also claimed that for years members of the Cobra unit have been assigned to guard public figures outside the legal framework, which he described as misuse of military resources.
