MP and leader of the Party for Democratic Action (PDD), Shaip Kamberi, issued a scathing indictment of the Serbian state’s security apparatus today, declaring that Bujanovac has become an unsafe city where criminal “mafia scenarios” go unpunished while citizens are kept under intense political surveillance.
Kamberi’s reaction follows a daylight armed robbery and the kidnapping of a jeweler in Veliki Trnovac, the second high-profile heist in the region in the last six months.
Criminal Patterns and Institutional Silence
Kamberi highlighted a disturbing trend of “unsolved” crimes in Southern Serbia, suggesting that the lack of arrests is not a failure of capability, but a deliberate pattern of inactivity.
- Unresolved Heists: Two major armed robberies have occurred within six months. In both cases, the perpetrators remain “unknown,” with authorities issuing what Kamberi calls “dry, bureaucratic statements” that lead to no accountability.
- Hate Speech: Kamberi noted that instances of “Death to Albanians” graffiti also remain uninvestigated, adding to the climate of fear among the local Albanian population.
- The “Gambino” Comparison: The MP compared the current state of Bujanovac to the era of the infamous New York crime families (Gambino, Lucchese, Genovese) in the 1930s, stating that “mafia spectacles” are now unfolding in broad daylight before the eyes of the citizens.
The “Political Surveillance” Paradox
The core of Kamberi’s criticism lies in the selective efficiency of the Serbian security agencies. He accused the state of prioritizing political “witch hunts” over public safety.
“Ironic and bitter: the same agencies that fail to identify armed robbers in broad daylight have exceptional efficiency in matters that have nothing to do with public safety,” Kamberi stated. “They know who is drinking coffee with whom, who has political conflicts, and who wants to become the mayor. There is detailed information on politics and total darkness around crime.”
A Collapse of State Function
Kamberi argued that the situation in Southern Serbia represents a fundamental “collapse of the state’s function.” He suggested that the indifference shown by the Vučić regime and its institutions toward the security of Bujanovac is an alarming sign of state neglect—or worse.
Key Allegations in Kamberi’s Statement:
- Weaponization of Intelligence: State resources are being used to monitor political opponents rather than tracking armed criminal groups.
- Indifference to Minority Safety: The failure to address crimes in predominantly Albanian areas like Veliki Trnovac is viewed as an abandonment of the state’s duty to protect all its citizens.
- Governance through Distraction: Kamberi noted that while the public is distracted by “virtual dialogues” about energy crises, real-world security is disintegrating.
Regional Implications
The deteriorating security situation in Bujanovac adds another layer of complexity to the already tense relations between Belgrade and Prishtina. As the international community monitors the Preševo Valley for human rights abuses, Kamberi’s warning suggests that the “breakdown of the rule of law” in Serbia is not just a judicial issue in Belgrade (as seen with the Mrdić Laws), but a physical safety crisis in the border regions.
“Perhaps someone is waiting for someone to be killed in these ‘spectacles’ of robbery before the state decides to catch criminals,” Kamberi concluded, warning that the silence of the institutions is a precursor to even greater tragedy.
