Nearly three months after the arrest of 11 individuals in Serbia, suspected of involvement in racist incidents targeting Jewish and Muslim communities in France and Germany, the case remains under active investigation, authorities confirmed.
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Smederevo told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) that the judicial process is still in the investigative phase, with no final conclusions reached so far.
Suspects Remain in Custody
According to the prosecutor’s office, nine suspects remain in detention at the High Court in Smederevo. Following their arrest in late September, they were initially placed in one-month pretrial detention, which has since been extended by court decision.
Two additional suspects, who were placed under house arrest, were not mentioned in the court’s response, leaving it unclear whether their restrictive measures have also been extended.
French Intelligence Points to Kremlin Involvement
Meanwhile, French investigative media have published new information, citing intelligence sources that allegedly show strong evidence that the operation was directed from the Kremlin, with the aim of destabilizing French society.
According to these reports, the incidents were allegedly designed to fuel ethnic and religious tensions, a tactic that analysts say aligns with Russia’s broader hybrid warfare strategy in Europe.
The competent prosecutor’s office in France did not respond to RFE/RL inquiries regarding these claims.
Espionage Allegations and Security Concerns
In addition to accusations of racial discrimination and hate crimes, the suspects are also charged with espionage.
Predrag Petrović, from the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), told RFE/RL that the allegations made by French intelligence services appear credible.
“Russia is currently in a major confrontation with Western countries. France, in particular, stands out as a key target, and this fits into patterns we have seen before in Russian intelligence operations,” Petrović said.
Arrests and Suspected Organizer at Large
On 29 September, in a joint operation by Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) and the police, 11 suspects were arrested in Smederevo, a city approximately 60 kilometers from Belgrade.
Authorities suspect the group carried out racist acts in Paris and Berlin between April and September 2025, allegedly targeting Jewish and Muslim religious communities to escalate social tensions.
The Serbian Ministry of Interior (MUP) stated at the time that one suspect, identified only by the initials M.G., remains at large. According to police, M.G. is believed to have organized and trained a group of 14 Serbian citizens on Serbian territory under the guidance of a foreign intelligence service.
The MUP has not provided updated information regarding the whereabouts of the suspect.
Judicial Proceedings Continue
The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Smederevo confirmed that the case remains under investigation and emphasized that no further details can be disclosed at this stage in order to protect the integrity of the proceedings.
On 30 September, prosecutors reported that all suspects had been questioned: eight provided statements in their defense, while three chose to remain silent.
According to the High Court in Smederevo, detention has been extended for the suspects charged with espionage — four until 25 December and five until 26 December.
