Zvonko Veselinović, a controversial businessman from Kosovo with a criminal past, was spotted at a counter-rally organized by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in front of the Serbian Parliament.
Veselinović, who has been linked to numerous criminal activities and his companies have secured state contracts, was photographed at the event, as reported by nova.rs.
Veselinović has a lengthy criminal record, including multiple arrests. His first major encounter with the law occurred in 2003 when he was caught with 3.19 kilograms of heroin, valued at approximately 150,000 euros, during a traffic stop on the Raška – Kraljevo road. In 2004, he was arrested on charges of involvement in the murder of Slavisa Maksimović. Later, in 2005, he was apprehended in northern Mitrovica for car theft.
In the summer and fall of 2011, northern Kosovo Serbs, including Veselinović, set up barricades at the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative crossings to block EULEX officials from entering Kosovo. The situation escalated into clashes with police, during which a member of the Kosovo Special Police was killed. The KFOR commander at the time, Erhard Drevs, identified Veselinović and his brother, Žarko, as key figures behind the barricade incidents.
Veselinović’s legal troubles continued, as in December 2011, he and his brother were arrested in Kopaonik for the alleged illegal seizure of 32 trucks from the “Hipo Alpe – Adrija Leasing” company, resulting in a financial gain of at least 237 million dinars (approximately 2.02 million euros). While the Appeals Court acquitted Veselinović and his associate Milan Radoičić, Dragan Čurčić was sentenced to three years in prison.
Veselinović was also acquitted in another case related to illegal gravel extraction on Corridor 10, which involved multiple suspects, including him, his brother, and other businessmen.
