Attempts to stop student-led protests have failed for the Serbian president.
Now, Aleksandar Vučić has embarked on another mission: creating his own shadow army, modeled after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Wagner group.
Its primary task will be to confront protesters, who have announced the largest demonstration yet on March 15.
This group will consist of various profiles, from former Serbian military personnel involved in war crimes during the Yugoslav wars to young recruits from northern Kosovo.
Kosovo Serb organizations and Serbian journalists, both from Kosovo and Serbia, have raised the alarm about these developments.
Former Serbian Police Officers Who Served in Kosovo
Danas reported that Vučić has mobilized former Serbian police officers from Kosovo to incite violence during the March 15 protest in Belgrade.
These individuals were initially employed by the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs before being integrated into the Kosovo Police. After leaving their positions, they continued receiving pensions from the Serbian state.
Now, they are being offered additional compensation for their new role: a daily wage of 100 euros.
The Organizers of the Banjska Attack
A group of individuals involved in organizing the Banjska attack in northern Kosovo has also arrived in Belgrade.
Radar’s editor-in-chief, Vesna Mališić, stated that Vučić is attempting to provoke conflict during the protest, which could serve as a pretext for declaring a state of emergency.
The mastermind behind the Banjska attack is Milan Radoičić, the former vice-president of the Serbian List party. On September 24, 2023, he led a heavily armed group that launched an attack in northern Kosovo using weapons supplied by the Serbian military. The group killed a Kosovar police officer.
After several hours of fighting with the Kosovo Police, they were forced to retreat to Serbia, where they were protected by Vučić.
The Red Berets – Former Serbian Military Officers
Wearing military uniforms, the infamous Red Berets gathered in “Pionirski Park” in Belgrade to show their support for Vučić.
Among them was Goran Radosavljević Guri, one of the individuals responsible for the Racak massacre and the murder of the American Bytyqi brothers.
Alongside him were many other well-known figures with a history of war crimes, such as Žika Crnogorac, who participated in atrocities during the 1990s conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia.
None of them have ever faced justice for their crimes, having been shielded by President Vučić, to whom they now seem to be repaying their debt.
Young Recruits from Kosovo
Initially, several Kosovo Serb organizations publicly warned that Vučić, through the Serbian List, had begun organizing 500 young men from northern Kosovo.
They are to be stationed in front of the Serbian presidency in Belgrade, with orders to protect Vučić from protesters.
These organizations stated that the recruits have been assigned this task for at least 25 days, with the possibility of an extension, and will be provided with food and a daily wage.
Meanwhile, Serbian journalist Branislav Krstić from Kosovo reported that 100 young Serbs from northern Kosovo have already traveled to Belgrade.
He claimed that their participation came as a result of threats and blackmail from Vučić’s regime, describing the situation as a state of horror.
