Serbian Prosecutors to Seek 'Sky' Messages on Ex-Football Chief Kokeza Amid Attack Allegations

Serbia's Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office has announced it will seek "Sky" application communications from the Ministry of Internal Affairs related to former Football Association of Serbia president Slaviša Kokeza. This action follows an investigation by KRIK, an investigative journalism portal, which revealed Kokeza's alleged plans to physically assault prominent footballer Nemanja Vidić.

The prosecutor's office stated that they were not aware of the content of these communications until KRIK published their findings. They will now request information from the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding whether the "Sky" messages uncovered by KRIK have been submitted and analyzed, and what actions have been taken. "We will request that all available 'Sky' communications concerning the former FSS president Slaviša Kokeza and other individuals with whom he was in contact, according to your research, be submitted to the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office as soon as possible," the office stated.

Europol exclusively provides these communications to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, not directly to the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office can only access this material if it is forwarded by the Ministry. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has not yet responded to KRIK's inquiries about whether they possess these messages.

Separately, lawyer Ivan Ninić has filed a criminal complaint against Kokeza for planning the attack on Vidić. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade will forward this complaint to the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office, as they do not possess the relevant information or "Sky" messages themselves. KRIK's research, based on "Sky" messages from 2020, suggests Kokeza also planned to retaliate against footballers Nemanja Matić, Danko Lazović, and Dragan Mrđa for publicly supporting Vidić. The messages also reportedly indicate conflicts between Kokeza and Andrej Vučić, the brother of the Serbian President, and suggest meetings between President Vučić and Red Star Belgrade hooligans.

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We will request that all available ‘skaj’ communications concerning the former FSS president Slaviša Кokeza and other individuals with whom he was in contact, according to your research, be submitted to the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office as soon as possible.