Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, 15 Serbian ambassadors and other senior officials are named in criminal complaints alleging violations of electoral rights, in a case now being handled by Serbia’s Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime (TOK).
The case raises serious questions about the alleged use of state institutions and diplomatic positions in actions that may have undermined citizens’ right to vote. According to TOK, the complaints concern suspected abuse of official position, violation of voting rights and, in some cases, obstruction of voting.
The prosecution initially opened cases following two criminal complaints against Aleksandar Nakić, Serbia’s ambassador to Slovakia, and Dragan Šutanovac, its ambassador to the United States. Both were accused in the complaints of suspected abuse of official position in connection with alleged violations of electoral rights.
On October 20, TOK requested information from Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Republic Electoral Commission to advance the preliminary investigation.
The prosecution subsequently received 13 additional criminal complaints, including complaints involving the previously named ambassadors and other Serbian diplomatic representatives.
Those named include Ana Hrustanović, ambassador to France; Dragan Simeunović, ambassador to Romania; Ivan Trifunović, ambassador to Switzerland; Milan Ravić, ambassador to Bulgaria; Nebojša Rodić, ambassador to Montenegro; Radet Stefanović, ambassador to Australia; Stefan Tomašević, ambassador to Canada; and Vladimir Marić, ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
Foreign Minister Marko Đurić is also named in the complaints, alongside Vesko Radović, head of the Security Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ General Secretariat, and Dušan Kozarev, the ministry’s acting secretary-general.
According to the prosecution’s statement, the complaints against Đurić and Radović concern suspected abuse of official position and violation of the right to vote. The complaint concerning Kozarev alleges abuse of official position.
TOK said its acting organised crime prosecutor immediately began gathering information after receiving the complaints and requested checks by Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs through its Service for Combating Organised Crime (SBPOK).
The allegations are particularly serious because they involve senior government officials and diplomatic representatives who hold positions of public trust. The right to vote is a fundamental democratic right, and any alleged attempt to interfere with its exercise warrants a thorough and transparent investigation.
However, the prosecution has not announced any convictions in the case. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the individuals named have not been established as criminally responsible by the information provided in the announcement.
The central question now is whether the investigation will establish individual responsibility and whether those involved will face legal consequences, regardless of their political position or diplomatic status.
