Serbia: Head of Criminal Police Arrested Following Legislation

O head of serbian criminal police, accused by the student movement, winner of the recent legislative elections, of having resorted to “brutality” during the protests against power, was arrested today in the framework of an investigation, indicated judicial source.

In a press statement, Belgrade’s chief prosecutor, Nenad Stefanovic, indicated that the arrest is related to an investigation into an organized crime homicide on suspicion of abuse of functions, the Public Prosecutor announced.

“ This arrest has no relation to [...] the outcome of the parliamentary elections ", said.

The 42-year-old arrest of Marko Kricak takes place a week after the early parliamentary elections, won by a long margin by a list supported by the student movement, which defeated the camp of former Serbian Nationalist President Aleksandar Vucic, in power since 2012.

His rise in the police hierarchy has been attributed in recent months by some local media to his loyalty to Vucic. On Thursday, the Student List demanded his resignation.

In the course of the operation, police arrested Marko Kricak and Bosko Sekulovic, head of the Crime Prevention Service, who was part of the criminal police, said Stefanovic.

“ Both are suspected of having abused [...] their duties and failed in the performance of professional duties, causing damage and a serious violation of the rights of former Belgrade police chief,” Veselin Milic said.

According to the Public Prosecutor, abuses were committed in an investigation conducted by the two men after the murder in May of a man presented as a member of the local crime underworld in a restaurant in Belgrade.

Kricak is still suspected of having “maltreated and assaulted” a person during this investigation. The two officers were placed in protective custody for 48 hours, while waiting to be heard by a prosecutor.

Veselin Milic had been arrested three days after the murder, on suspicion of “not reporting a crime and its perpetrator” and of “aid to the perpetrator of a crime”.

After spending almost two months in prison, he filed a complaint against Marko Kricak and Bosko Sekulovic, accusing them of having provided the prosecutor with evidence against him in a “selective, incomplete and false” manner, according to the complaint, cited in July by various media agencies.

Before being appointed, at the end of 2025, to direct the criminal police, Kricak held various positions in the intelligence services and the Interior Ministry.

During the protests, triggered by the tragedy of November 1, 2024 at the Novi Sad railway station, which caused 16 deaths, led a unit responsible for the protection of sensitive personalities and facilities.

In August 2025, several students claimed to have been beaten or mistreated by members of this unit.

A student, Nikolina Sindjelic, told that she had been detained and taken to a government garage in Belgrade, along with several other protesters. He accused Marko Kricak himself of having “punched her brutally” as well as one of his colleagues.

“ He insulted us, called me a bitch and told me he was going to rape me in front of everyone ", he said.

At the time, the Ministry of the Interior rejected the charges “veemently”.