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In an interview published by BIRN on 13 October 2026, Momčilo Marjanović, who says he was an activist of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) for more than ten years, described how, by his account, the ruling party organised and paid groups of men who were deployed against students and citizens at protests. Marjanović, who speaks under his full name, says he led such groups to the "most high-risk and critical points" of gatherings where demonstrators were present, and that they used force "often without necessity".
According to Marjanović, men under his command were stationed in the pro-government camp in Belgrade's Pionirski park, known as "Ćacilend", around 15 March 2025, the day of the largest protest ever held in Serbia, with spray, batons and other equipment kept in a tent. He says he saw at least a hundred people in the camp openly carrying pistols, and that the police "protected and were in coordination with" people in the camp. He also describes people sent among protesters as "inserted elements", tasked with provoking clashes with the police so that students would be blamed, and links this practice to incidents in Bačka Palanka, Bački Petrovac and Novi Sad. He stresses that he does not claim all clashes were staged, only that the mechanism existed.
Marjanović alleges that instructions and cash came from Nenad Barac, director of the Novi Sad public utility company JKP Novosadska toplana and an SNS member. By his account, he was paid 500 euros per day and each man he led 200 euros per day. He adds that part of his role was mobilising "safe voters", at a usual rate of 100 euros per vote. He provided BIRN with correspondence with Barac that he says documents the payments. Barac declined to answer BIRN's questions, while two other activists named in the interview declined to comment and denied knowing Marjanović.
The allegations are those of a single participant and have not yet been tested by any competent institution. They are, however, specific: they name a public company director, describe a payment mechanism and point to police coordination at identifiable events. Accordingly, they warrant a prompt and independent investigation by the competent public prosecutor's office, including into the role of the police. No prosecutor's office has announced any action so far. Against this backdrop, the account adds to the persistent lack of accountability for violence against protesters since the protests began in November 2024.
According to Marjanović, men under his command were stationed in the pro-government camp in Belgrade's Pionirski park, known as "Ćacilend", around 15 March 2025, the day of the largest protest ever held in Serbia, with spray, batons and other equipment kept in a tent. He says he saw at least a hundred people in the camp openly carrying pistols, and that the police "protected and were in coordination with" people in the camp. He also describes people sent among protesters as "inserted elements", tasked with provoking clashes with the police so that students would be blamed, and links this practice to incidents in Bačka Palanka, Bački Petrovac and Novi Sad. He stresses that he does not claim all clashes were staged, only that the mechanism existed.
Marjanović alleges that instructions and cash came from Nenad Barac, director of the Novi Sad public utility company JKP Novosadska toplana and an SNS member. By his account, he was paid 500 euros per day and each man he led 200 euros per day. He adds that part of his role was mobilising "safe voters", at a usual rate of 100 euros per vote. He provided BIRN with correspondence with Barac that he says documents the payments. Barac declined to answer BIRN's questions, while two other activists named in the interview declined to comment and denied knowing Marjanović.
The allegations are those of a single participant and have not yet been tested by any competent institution. They are, however, specific: they name a public company director, describe a payment mechanism and point to police coordination at identifiable events. Accordingly, they warrant a prompt and independent investigation by the competent public prosecutor's office, including into the role of the police. No prosecutor's office has announced any action so far. Against this backdrop, the account adds to the persistent lack of accountability for violence against protesters since the protests began in November 2024.
