Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) conducted secret surveillance of Radar’s editor-in-chief and two journalists, including monitoring communications inside the newspaper’s newsroom in Belgrade, according to documents obtained by the outlet.
In an investigative report published on November 4, Radar said BIA Director Vladimir Orlić requested covert surveillance measures against editor-in-chief Vesna Mališić and journalists Sandra Petrušić and Milan Radonjić. The Higher Court in Belgrade reportedly approved the measures for the first time on June 12, 2026.
According to the documents cited by Radar, the surveillance authorization included the recording of communications inside business premises on the first floor of an office building at 5 Terazije Street — the address of Radar’s newsroom.
The outlet said this effectively meant that conversations involving other editors and journalists could also have been monitored, since editorial discussions and daily meetings regularly took place at the premises.
Radar reported that, because of concerns about possible surveillance, its journalists had adopted the practice of discussing sensitive subjects and sources privately, outside the newsroom and without mobile phones.
Physical surveillance also reportedly ordered
In addition to electronic surveillance, Radar said Orlić had used his discretionary authority to order ten days of physical surveillance of certain newsroom members during the period in question.
The documents also reportedly listed special surveillance measures for four restaurants in Belgrade, although the outlet said its editor-in-chief and journalists did not visit those establishments.
Radar noted that the initial surveillance authorization came one day after it published an article by Radonjić on June 11 concerning an incident in Tivat, Montenegro, involving people allegedly connected to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
The same edition included an editorial by Mališić about what she described as a parallel state carrying out Vučić’s orders, as well as reporting on the disappearance and killing of Nešović and the arrest of police deputy director Veselin Milić.
Surveillance measures extended several times
According to Radar, the special surveillance measures against Mališić, Radonjić and Petrušić were extended on July 15 and again on September 9, 2026.
On October 22, the day Radar published its final issue before the elections, Orlić reportedly submitted a proposal to Higher Court President Dragan Milošević requesting that all measures be discontinued.
The stated justification for the surveillance was suspicion that the three journalists were carrying out activities threatening Serbia’s security through alleged espionage, under Article 315 of the Serbian Criminal Code.
However, the proposal to terminate the measures, signed by Orlić, reportedly acknowledged that information collected through the surveillance had not indicated that the individuals were involved in espionage.
The document stated that there was no longer a need to continue the measures because doing so was not expected to produce the anticipated results.
Radar also highlighted a discrepancy in the paperwork: although the document’s heading indicates that the measures were discontinued on October 22, the recorded date of determination is November 3, 2026.
The allegations and details of the surveillance are based on documents published and described by Radar. The report raises questions about the use of intelligence powers against journalists and the potential monitoring of confidential editorial discussions and sources.
