Spasoje Vulević, the longtime commander of Serbia’s Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), has been officially relieved of duty and will formally retire starting Monday, N1 reports.
According to sources, Vulević’s dismissal came at the request of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
Vulević led the SAJ for nearly two decades and has served in the Ministry of Internal Affairs since 1993. He was the first Serbian police officer to graduate from the prestigious FBI Academy, and under his command, the SAJ was widely regarded as professional, disciplined, and free from scandals, according to Vreme magazine.
Vreme reports that Vulević refused to transform the SAJ into a political praetorian guard, a stance perceived as disobedience by political leaders. His authority within the police became an obstacle because he did not want the unit used against citizens, the magazine adds.
The portal Radar notes that Vulević was among those mentioned in the context of a recent purge within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. His retirement is seen as a sign that police professionals with integrity are leaving, making way for cadres ready to prioritize political loyalty over independence.
Vulević’s departure marks not only the end of an era for the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit but also serves as a political signal: those unwilling to deploy the unit for citizen repression no longer have a place at the top of Serbia’s police hierarchy.
