The Bureau for Social Research (BIRODI) has called on the Serbian Parliament to dismiss Dejan Damnjanović, director of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption, alleging that he simultaneously held two public positions and received income from both for nearly 22 months.
BIRODI also called for the dismissal of members of the Agency’s Council who were serving when the decision allowing Damnjanović to hold both positions was approved, and urged authorities to examine their potential criminal responsibility.
According to BIRODI, Damnjanović simultaneously served as director of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption and president of the Assembly of Jugoslovensko Rečno Brodarstvo (JRB) in Belgrade.
The organization called on the prosecution to investigate the circumstances surrounding his simultaneous exercise of the two public functions, as well as the conduct of members of the Agency’s Council who participated in approving the arrangement.
Data from the Agency’s Register of Public Officials show that Damnjanović served as president of the JRB Assembly from January 21, 2020, until December 31, 2024. He became director of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption on February 27, 2023, a position he continues to hold.
This means that between February 27, 2023, and December 31, 2024, he held both public positions simultaneously for almost 22 months.
According to the register, Damnjanović had a declared monthly net income of 503,331.25 Serbian dinars as director of the anti-corruption agency, while his reported monthly net income as president of the JRB Assembly was 129,000 dinars.
Damnjanović ended his role at JRB on December 31, 2024. BIRODI said its request for his dismissal therefore concerns only his current position as director of the Agency for Prevention of Corruption.
However, the organization argued that his departure from JRB does not resolve questions about the legality of his previous simultaneous positions or the responsibility of those who authorized the arrangement.
The Agency for Prevention of Corruption has confirmed that Damnjanović held both positions on the basis of a decision by its Council granting him permission to simultaneously perform two public functions.
BIRODI said the case therefore cannot be examined solely in terms of the director’s responsibility. It called for authorities to establish when the Council adopted the decision, which members participated in the vote and how each member voted.
The organization stressed that it was not prejudging whether Damnjanović or members of the Council committed criminal offenses, noting that the existence of any criminal liability, intent, unlawful benefit and individual responsibility can only be determined by prosecutors and the courts.
BIRODI also said that international indicators measuring perceptions of corruption in Serbia have deteriorated further since the beginning of Damnjanović’s tenure.
