Le Monde: Vučić relies on ultraloyalists to weaken anti-corruption movement

Parisian newspaper Le Monde reports that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is leaning on ultraloyalist groups with criminal connections to undermine anti-corruption movements. The article highlights an incident where 87 Serbian men, some known to authorities and carrying pro-Vučić banners, were turned back from Montenegro just before an EU summit. These individuals reportedly have ties to violence that has occurred on the fringes of pro-government rallies.

These rallies were organized to counter widespread anti-corruption protests that have periodically shaken Serbia since November 2024. The report describes a camp, dubbed "Ćirilend," in Belgrade, occupied by intimidating men who guard the presidential palace. For many Belgrade residents, this camp symbolizes Vučić's alleged reliance on the "ultra" fan scene, known for its criminal links, to quell public anger, although the protests have reportedly faded.

Incidents of violence, including automatic weapon attacks and Molotov cocktails, have increased in Belgrade. The article also touches upon a separate scandal involving the arrest of a high-ranking police official, Veselin Milić, accused of attempting to cover up a murder. Milić claims he is the victim of a conspiracy, but prosecutors later admitted there was insufficient evidence against him. The commander of Belgrade's rapid intervention unit was also arrested, reportedly for concealing a brawl.