"From 1990s Criminal Circles to New Young Firms": CINS Journalist on Who is Building the Expo

Ivana Milosavljević, a journalist with Serbia's Center for Investigative Journalism (CINS), has criticized the Expo project's lack of transparency, particularly regarding contract allocation. She stated in an N1 Studio live interview that a special law, the "lex specialis," effectively suspends standard public procurement procedures, leaving the public unaware of how firms are selected for this major state undertaking.

CINS investigations have revealed that companies associated with individuals from the 1990s criminal underworld, including associates and family members of former clan leaders and convicted criminals, are involved in the Expo project. Additionally, a recently established company, "Makiš beton," reportedly owned by the sister of Aleksandar Vidojević (known as Aca Rošavi), who is reportedly close to the Serbian president's son and a Partizan fan, is also benefiting from large state contracts. Vidojević himself has been linked to the SNS party and has appeared publicly with Danilo Vučić.

Milosavljević explained that CINS attempted to obtain information from the government-established companies managing the Expo construction but was told only three subcontractors had been engaged. Given the project's scale, CINS suspects many more subcontractors are involved. The investigative team has compiled a database confirming over 200 firms engaged in the Expo project. Another co-owner of "Makiš beton" is Vujadin Krstić, who was convicted for aiding in the concealment of the murder of Željko Ražnatović Arkan.