A set of judicial laws, publicly known as the Mrdić Laws, officially came into force on February 7, 2026. Under these laws, prosecutors previously assigned to the Office for Organized Crime (TOK) have 30 days to return to their original prosecutor offices and transfer their cases to other prosecutors. This move effectively threatens the operations of TOK, a key institution in Serbia’s fight against corruption and organized crime.
Following a visit to Brussels, Justice Minister Nenad Vujić proposed that the High Council of Prosecutors (VST) decide on the status of the reassigned prosecutors on February 20. While Vujić aims to find a solution that would preserve TOK’s functionality, VST President Branko Stamenković plans to first decide on the selection of new public prosecutors on February 13, and only afterward determine the fate of reassigned prosecutors—adding further uncertainty to the process.
Lawyer Ivan Ninić noted that new prosecutors could potentially strengthen TOK’s capacities, but it remains unclear how much support they have in the VST and whether political factions are trying to influence the process.
Prosecutor Goran Ilić suggested that the best temporary solution would be for most of the reassigned prosecutors to remain at TOK until the situation stabilizes. However, the right to appeal VST decisions to the Constitutional Court means that any appointments will not take immediate effect, and rulings from the Constitutional Court often take months. The head of the Constitutional Court is Vladan Petrov, a law professor frequently featured in pro-government media.
Nine prosecutors who previously worked at TOK have applied for the selection process. It remains unclear whether their experience will be utilized on high-profile cases such as Jovanjica and corruption cases involving municipal projects, or if decisions about their futures are solely in the hands of VST or influenced by political forces.
Conclusion: While the Mrdić Laws are now formally in effect, the future of TOK prosecutors and the institution’s ability to operate effectively remain uncertain, posing risks to Serbia’s fight against organized crime.
