Serbia’s Student List has presented a series of demands for changes within state institutions, calling for the resignation of senior officials in the police, security services, judiciary and public media following its election victory.
At its first press conference since the electoral victory, held in Pionirski Park, representatives of the Student List said institutional changes must begin immediately. They called on employees of state institutions, courts, banks, media outlets and companies to report any suspected destruction of documents, payments, contracts or suspicious orders during the transition period.
To facilitate this, they announced the launch of the email address [email protected], through which whistleblowers can report suspected cases. The representatives urged citizens to help protect public institutions and ensure accountability.
Demands concerning the media and public institutions
Regarding the media, Professor Mirjana Nikolić called on the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) to take action against Informer television, which she accused of spreading hate speech.
She recalled that the Student List had sent an open letter to Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), demanding the resignations of Director-General Manja Grčić, News Editor Bojana Mladenović and Deputy Director-General Dejan Jovanović. The students proposed establishing an interim management structure for RTS in consultation with representative trade unions.
Nikolić also called for the resignation of Telekom Srbija Director Vladimir Lučić, alleging that the company had been turned into an instrument of political influence and unjustified spending.
“Telekom has been placed at the service of political influence and unreasonable spending of public money. Neither Telekom nor any other operator should act as Serbia’s chief editor,” representatives of the Student List stated.
Demands for changes in the police and security services
Professor Svetlana Stanarević of the Faculty of Security announced that the Student List was demanding the immediate dismissal of several senior police officials, including Marko Kričak, head of the Criminal Police Department; Radosav Repac, commander of the Gendarmerie; Igor Žmirić, commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ); Vladimir Jerinić, head of the Police Department in Valjevo; and Goran Colić, head of the Technical Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The demands also cover other police officers who, according to the students, have violated the law. They are calling for officials who can guarantee the independent functioning of the police to be appointed to leadership positions, as well as for the reinstatement of individuals they say were unjustly dismissed.
The Student List also called for the resignation of Serbia’s Police Director, Dragan Vasiljević.
Regarding the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA), student representatives demanded the resignation of its director, Vladimir Orlić, alleging that the agency had operated as a security service for the ruling party.
They also called for the resignation of the director of the Military Intelligence Agency (VBA) and an immediate end to pressure against officials and journalists. According to the students, members of these institutions must return to carrying out their legally mandated duties.
Calls for investigations into controversial cases
On the issue of justice, Professor Jovan Vujičić of the Faculty of Law in Kragujevac said the Student List was calling on Chief Public Prosecutor for Organised Crime Mladen Nenadić to take urgent action in cases of public interest, including the General Staff building case and other matters raised by its representatives.
They are demanding that the prosecution inform the public about the steps taken and examine the potential criminal responsibility of prosecutorial officials, including Nenad Stefanović and Miodrag Marković.
The Student List called for Stefanović’s resignation, alleging that his actions had undermined public trust in the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office (VJT). It also demanded the resignation of Vladan Petrović, accusing him of acting in favour of President Aleksandar Vučić’s regime.
Demand for certification of election results
Finally, representatives of the Student List called on the Republic Electoral Commission (REC) to certify the final results of the parliamentary elections as soon as possible, paving the way for the formation of new institutions.
“The Student List has come to return the institutions to the citizens. Anyone who has violated the law must be held accountable within the legally prescribed timeframe,” they stated.
The Student List is also demanding that prosecutorial investigations be reopened into controversial cases linked to the governance of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) since 2015.
