Savamala Incident a Decade Later: Symbol of Serbia's Unresolved Scandals, Says Journalist Novaković

The Savamala incident, a decade on, continues to cast a long shadow over Serbia, serving as a stark symbol of the systemic issues plaguing our society. As journalist Ana Novaković of N1 Serbia points out, the core problem isn't just identifying who physically carried out the illegal demolitions, but rather understanding the chain of command, the planning, and the deliberate obstruction of justice that allowed it to happen and remain unresolved.

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Savamala is a paradigm of the situation in Serbia and society, which is repeating, because now it has become clear to us that anything is possible from that, and that nothing will ever be resolved, one scandal after another.

Novaković's persistent questioning, "Who demolished Savamala?" transcends the literal act. It encapsulates a broader frustration with a system where accountability is a distant concept. The public's memory, though fueled by initial protests like those organized by "Ne davimo Beograd," is constantly challenged by a relentless cycle of new scandals. This "out of sight, out of mind" dynamic, as Novaković describes it, is a deliberate tactic that allows those in power to evade consequences.

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It implies who came up with the idea to do it, who made the plan, who organized it, who told the police at the time not to answer the phone, not to accept citizens' complaints.

The statement by President Vučić, claiming responsibility, is dismissed by Novaković as mere rhetoric, devoid of legal weight unless substantiated before prosecutors. This highlights a deep-seated skepticism towards official pronouncements and a demand for tangible action rather than political posturing. The lack of institutional response, the failure to prosecute, and the silence from those who claimed to have knowledge of who was responsible all contribute to the "paradigm" Novaković describes – a Serbia where "everything is possible and nothing will be resolved."

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And because of that, there are no consequences, i.e. institutional reaction, no prosecution, no one has spoken about it.

This situation is particularly galling from a Serbian perspective because it speaks to a broader pattern of governance that has persisted for years. While international media might focus on specific events, for us, it's the consistent disregard for the rule of law and the public's right to answers that defines the era. The Savamala case is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a deeper malaise, a constant reminder that justice remains elusive for many.

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Those who said they knew who was responsible have never presented their findings to the prosecutor's office.