The Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade announced on June 25 that three individuals have been arrested on well-founded suspicions of planning a violent change of power in Serbia.
According to the prosecution, the arrested individuals—identified by their initials as I.M., N.A., and B.M.—are suspected of committing the criminal offense of “preparing a criminal act against the constitutional order and security of Serbia.”
The investigation alleges that on June 21, 2025, the suspects held a meeting at a hotel in Kraljevo, where they planned a violent overthrow of the government of the Republic of Serbia.
Two of the suspects were arrested in Kragujevac, and one near Požega, in western Serbia.
The Serbian prosecution further claims that the suspects had agreed not to return home until they had “killed or destroyed” representatives of state institutions. Authorities allege they had planned to use firearms and attack police officers to disarm them.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the suspects also intended to storm government buildings, including the Serbian Government headquarters, other state institutions, the national public broadcaster, and the pro-government media outlets Happy TV and Informer.
One of the suspects was reportedly found in possession of a pistol and ammunition.
All suspects will appear before the Belgrade Public Prosecutor’s Office within 48 hours.
One of those arrested is Novica Antić, the former head of Serbia’s Military Union (VSS), according to his lawyer Ivan Ninić, who confirmed this to Radio Free Europe.
Antić was previously detained in February 2024, when he was arrested on February 27 along with two collaborators for alleged abuse of office. He was later elected as the leader of the Military Union of Serbia.
In past statements, Antić had accused Serbia’s Military Security Agency, the Ministry of Defense, and the General Staff of the Army of exerting pressure on the union.
According to media reports, Antić was released from detention in August 2024.
In March 2024, Politico described Antić as a Russian agent, citing a Western intelligence report obtained by the outlet. According to the document, Antić was identified as an “active agent of influence” for Russia’s FSB.
Earlier on the same day, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office also announced the arrest of student protester Stefan Tomić, on suspicion of calling for “the violent overthrow of the constitutional order.”
His arrest has been condemned by student protesters and several opposition parties, calling it intimidation and pressure ahead of a planned protest on June 28 (Vidovdan).
