Serbian Minister of Culture, Nikola Selaković, appeared before the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office (TOK) under investigation for serious criminal offenses, delivering what observers describe as a staged public performance designed to manipulate public perception.
Analysts note that Selaković’s conduct unfolded in three distinct phases, each serving to reinforce the power and impunity of the ruling regime:
- Initial Absence: Selaković initially ignored the summons, signaling a belief that he is “above the law” and demonstrating the impunity granted to top officials under President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration.
- Media-Oriented Appearance: When he eventually appeared, Selaković directed his remarks at the prosecutors and media rather than addressing the substance of the charges. His statements framed the prosecutors as part of a “criminal band” and portrayed himself as a victim of political persecution, diverting attention from his alleged offenses.
- Political Support and Legal Theater: Accompanied by party officials and propagandist media, Selaković conducted a performance that blurred the line between legal accountability and political spectacle, including veiled threats toward prosecutors and aggressive public rhetoric.
Selaković went so far as to describe prosecutors as “autoimmune,” implying that the justice system is attacking the state itself while he, in a position of power, claims immunity. Legal experts criticize such rhetoric as an assault on the rule of law, reflecting the broader erosion of institutional independence in Serbia.
Observers argue that this episode exemplifies a recurring pattern under the Vučić regime, where high-ranking officials leverage state institutions and media for political self-preservation, undermining transparency, accountability, and democratic norms. Rather than facing the consequences of credible allegations, ministers and party elites perform orchestrated public acts designed to maintain power and public influence.
Selaković’s conduct, analysts warn, is indicative not only of his personal strategy but of a broader systemic culture of impunity and political manipulation entrenched in Serbia’s governance.
