Defendants Walk Out of Courtroom After Judges Refer to Radar Investigation Into Sky Communications
Former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Marko Parezanović, a special adviser to the director of Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (BIA), will be summoned to testify before the Special Court in Belgrade in the money-laundering trial against Darko Šarić, the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to Radar on Tuesday.
During Tuesday’s hearing, defence lawyers requested the disqualification of the judges presiding over the case, including panel president Vladan Ivanković and judge Siniša Petrović. The request will be decided by Belgrade Higher Court President Dragan Milošević.
Earlier in the hearing, the defendants asked to leave the courtroom after the judges referred to Sky ECC communications published by Radar in two investigative reports, titled “Oskar’s Costly Promise to Šarić” and “Vućko Is Now Our Brother, Andrej Is in Charge, Godfather.”
The reports examined messages exchanged by members of criminal groups in which Vučić was allegedly identified by the nicknames “Oskar” and “Čvarak.”
Judge Ivanković said the messages had not been formally submitted to the court, but noted that no one had publicly denied their authenticity.
“I believe it is necessary to clarify these matters. The decision to question Parezanović and Vučić as witnesses is not directed against anyone, but is in the interest of the country,” Ivanković said.
Following the judge’s remarks, all defendants demonstratively left the courtroom, with the permission of the presiding judge.
The proceedings against Šarić have been ongoing for nearly 14 years. The case was reopened after Šarić was arrested again following his release to house arrest, based on Sky ECC communications obtained through international legal assistance. The messages indicated that he had allegedly continued criminal activities while in custody.
Calls for Further Investigation Into Sky ECC Communications
Before the Special Court’s decision, the student movement called for the establishment of a dedicated unit within the Criminal Police Directorate to investigate the entire body of Sky ECC material.
The request comes ahead of the December 1, 2026 deadline for seeking legal assistance from France regarding data obtained through the dismantling of the encrypted communications platform.
The student organization also called for an investigation into the possible criminal responsibility of Aleksandar Vučić over alleged connections with the criminal groups associated with Darko Šarić and Veljko Belivuk.
Radar has published several investigations into the Sky ECC material, including reports in January and October examining alleged links between Serbian state institutions and the two criminal groups.
Before the publication of the reports, Vučić had claimed that the Sky ECC messages contained nothing compromising for the person identified as “Oskar.” After the reports appeared, he briefly stated that he had never used the Sky communications platform, although Radar said its reporting had not claimed that he personally used it.
Parezanović Denies Links to the Šarić Brothers
Marko Parezanović, who is allegedly referred to as “Markus” in the Sky ECC messages, recently issued an open letter denying any connection with Darko and Duško Šarić.
He said he had never met either of them, attended gatherings with them or maintained any form of communication with them.
Previously published Sky ECC messages reportedly referred to visits by Duško Šarić to Parezanović’s office, where meetings were allegedly attended by then-President of the Court of Appeals Duško Milenković. According to the messages, then-BIA chief Bratislav Gašić also saw them in the office.
In a recent statement, Parezanović categorically denied that such meetings had ever taken place, saying he made the claim under full criminal and material responsibility and that the allegations had already been subjected to detailed checks and analysis.
The planned testimony of Vučić and Parezanović is expected to bring further attention to the allegations emerging from the Sky ECC communications and their potential implications for the long-running Šarić case.
