Institutions and Oversight

The courts, prosecutors, and parliament are meant to function as independent checks on executive power. In Serbia, a set of judicial amendments introduced by ruling majority MP Mrdić has undermined both judicial independence and prosecutorial autonomy, drawing sharp criticism from legal experts and international bodies. Parliament, meanwhile, has continued to manipulate procedures, sideline the opposition, and rubber-stamp executive decisions rather than scrutinize them. This section documents how institutional power is exercised - and what it costs when institutions fail to function as genuine checks.

Amendments to Key Judicial Laws: Systemic Changes Without Public Consultation

October

Citizen Lab and the SHARE Foundation confirmed that the phone of University of Belgrade rector Vladan Đokić was infected with Pegasus spyware during 2026 through a zero-click exploit. Rade Bajić, a senior prosecutorial associate at the Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime who had worked on the Generalštab case, received an Apple warning in August that his device had likely been targeted; an infection has not been confirmed. According to Citizen Lab, at least 16 members of Serbian civil society are now known to have been targeted with mercenary spyware. No state body has responded.

The Commission for the Audit of the Voter Register distanced itself from findings presented by the Government's Office for IT and eGovernment, which had reported a near-complete match between the voter register and source records. While confirming that the platform was developed in cooperation with it, the Commission stated that the Office's findings were not the result of consistent application of its methodology. It added that statements by other state bodies and by individual Commission members do not represent its findings, and that its audit report will be submitted to the National Assembly.

The Constitutional Court rejected the proposal to declare unconstitutional and unlawful the REC decision of 24 August introducing curtained voting booths as an alternative to cardboard screens. Court President Vladan Petrov said the booths provide a higher level of secrecy of the vote, but that the Court did not examine how the rules will be applied or possible abuses during voting. The reasoning has not been published. Students, opposition parties and two REC members had argued that the booths make it easier to photograph ballots.

Update

University of Belgrade rector infected with Pegasus, organized crime prosecution associate targeted

Citizen Lab confirmed a zero-click Pegasus infection on rector Vladan Đokić's phone, while Rade Bajić, who worked on the Generalštab case, received an Apple spyware warning.

Update

Voter register audit Commission distances itself from the Government IT Office’s findings

A week after the Government's IT Office reported a near-complete match between the voter register and source records, the audit Commission said those findings were not its own.

Update

Constitutional Court upholds REC decision on voting booths ahead of 25 October

The Court rejected the challenge eleven days before the election, without publishing its reasoning and without examining how the booths will work on election day.

Update

Former SNS activist describes paid groups deployed against protesters

In an interview with BIRN, a long-time member of the ruling party alleges that groups of men were paid in cash to use force at protests, with police coordination.

Update

CRTA asks Ministry of Interior for meeting on safety of election observers

Claims in some media that the observation mission will withdraw on election day prompted CRTA's request, which asks whether the Ministry holds security assessments concerning observers.

Update

Decisions of the Anti-Corruption Agency in the election campaign

What the Agency published from 15 September: rulings on violations of Article 50, weekly monitoring reports and decisions on complaints.

Update

Mandator for the 25 October elections

The seat calculator now runs on the eighteen lists standing on 25 October. Enter turnout and votes to see where the seats fall - an exercise in arithmetic, not a forecast.

Update

Republic Electoral Commission – composition and mandate

The elections of 25 October 2026 will be administered by the Republic Electoral Commission (REC) - a body the law calls independent and autonomous, and which parliament composes on the nomination of its own parliamentary groups. Its design and competences have barely changed since it was last criticised by the Venice Commission and ODIHR in 2022.

Update

Mladić funeral draws EU condemnation and puts Serbia’s accession commitments in question

Von der Leyen, Costa, Metsola and Weber condemned the official honours and ministerial attendance at the funeral in Belgrade; Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos called off her planned visit to Serbia.

CRTA.Plus is part of CRTA’s work to document developments related to democracy, the rule of law, and accountability in Serbia.

Key Issues

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Slučajevi

Institutions and Oversight

Citizen Lab confirmed Pegasus spyware on rector Vladan Đokić’s phone, while organized crime prosecution associate Rade Bajić was also targeted.

The voter register audit Commission said the Government IT Office’s finding on the register’s accuracy did not consistently apply its methodology.

The Constitutional Court rejects the challenge to the REC decision introducing voting booths at polling stations.

University of Belgrade rector infected with Pegasus, organized crime prosecution associate targeted

Voter register audit Commission distances itself from the Government IT Office’s findings

Constitutional Court upholds REC decision on voting booths ahead of 25 October

Former SNS activist describes paid groups deployed against protesters

CRTA asks Ministry of Interior for meeting on safety of election observers

Decisions of the Anti-Corruption Agency in the election campaign

Mandator for the 25 October elections

Republic Electoral Commission – composition and mandate

Mladić funeral draws EU condemnation and puts Serbia’s accession commitments in question