Radar and Libertas Press obtained transcripts of encrypted Sky ECC communications that shed light on the relationship between the Belivuk criminal group and Serbian state officials.
- Belivuk and Miljković, leaders of the Kavač clan-linked group, planned to contact U.S. authorities in early 2021, offering compromising information on Serbian officials, after growing disillusioned with their treatment by the government. Messages from the group explicitly mention coordinating the release of sensitive material to Americans.
- The transcripts reveal direct references to top officials, including Minister of Interior Aleksandar Vulin, with the group criticizing him for switching from facilitating their operations to acting as a law enforcement authority.
Key Findings
- Continued Criminal Activity Under Surveillance
- Belivuk and Miljković were under full surveillance by Serbian intelligence, including monitoring of six mobile phones and secret tracking.
- Despite this, half of the murders attributed to their group occurred while they were being monitored, raising questions about enforcement and accountability.
- Connections to State and Security Officials
- Communications suggest collaboration or at least tolerance from certain police and intelligence officials.
- Individuals such as Goran Colić (BIA) and Žandarmerija coordinator Nenad Vučković were linked to Belivuk’s operations in sports clubs and paramilitary-style training, suggesting deep infiltration into civil and security institutions.
- Media and Political Exploitation
- After the group’s February 2021 arrests, the government and pro-regime media extensively publicized gruesome details, including uncensored images, raising concerns over selective justice and propaganda use.
- Belivuk offered to cooperate as a witness in politically sensitive cases (e.g., Savamala, Oliver Ivanović, Vladimir Cvijan), hinting at broader state connections.
- Uninvestigated Questions
- The origins of Belivuk’s group in Belgrade and their ties to state apparatus before 2019 remain unexplored by prosecutors.
- The fact that they could leave Serbia shortly before their final arrest—traveling to Montenegro and returning with minimal questioning—suggests potential complicity or negligence by authorities.
Implications
The investigation exposes a blurring of lines between organized crime and state structures, highlighting serious questions about rule of law, intelligence oversight, and political manipulation in Serbia. Even after arrests, the state has yet to explain the group’s deep infiltration into security services and the apparent tolerance for ongoing criminal activity.
