Update
Auditing the voter register: purpose, impact, and where we a...
CRTA+ Voter register audit: only 4 of 69 checks can be performed under current data access CRTA̵...
Photo: Gavrilo Andrić, protesti.pics
Following the large protest on March 15, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that only two units of the Ministry of Interior were prepared that day to “fully preserve public order” - the Police Brigade and the Unit for the Protection of Certain Persons and Facilities (JZO). In this context, he specifically highlighted the commander of the Police Brigade, Colonel Radoslav Repac, as well as members of the unit led by Marko Kričak.
In the months that followed, a series of personnel changes took place in several key positions within the police.
In November, new heads were appointed to several important units. Igor Žmirić was appointed commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), having previously served as deputy commander of the JZO. Radoslav Repac, formerly commander of the Police Brigade, was appointed commander of the Gendarmerie. Dragiša Simić was appointed head of the Border Police Directorate, despite having previously faced at least three criminal proceedings.
In December, changes occurred within the leadership of the Criminal Police Directorate. Marko Kričak, former commander of the JZO, was appointed head of the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP), despite not having formal police training. His close associate from the JZO, Nenad Marić, was appointed deputy head of the UKP.
The reshuffling continued in January, when Marko Zafirović, previously deputy commander in the JZO and a close associate of Kričak, was appointed head of the Service for Combating Organized Crime (SBPOK). At the same time, Ivan Ristić, who began his career in the Special Operations Unit (JSO), was appointed commander of the JZO.
Taken together, these appointments indicate a strong continuity between several police structures - primarily the JZO, the Police Brigade, and former members of the JSO - whose personnel assumed a number of key positions within the Ministry of Interior in a relatively short period of time.
In the months that followed, a series of personnel changes took place in several key positions within the police.
In November, new heads were appointed to several important units. Igor Žmirić was appointed commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), having previously served as deputy commander of the JZO. Radoslav Repac, formerly commander of the Police Brigade, was appointed commander of the Gendarmerie. Dragiša Simić was appointed head of the Border Police Directorate, despite having previously faced at least three criminal proceedings.
In December, changes occurred within the leadership of the Criminal Police Directorate. Marko Kričak, former commander of the JZO, was appointed head of the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP), despite not having formal police training. His close associate from the JZO, Nenad Marić, was appointed deputy head of the UKP.
The reshuffling continued in January, when Marko Zafirović, previously deputy commander in the JZO and a close associate of Kričak, was appointed head of the Service for Combating Organized Crime (SBPOK). At the same time, Ivan Ristić, who began his career in the Special Operations Unit (JSO), was appointed commander of the JZO.
Taken together, these appointments indicate a strong continuity between several police structures - primarily the JZO, the Police Brigade, and former members of the JSO - whose personnel assumed a number of key positions within the Ministry of Interior in a relatively short period of time.
