Retired Serbian police general to N1: SAJ last defense of professionalism

General Bogoljub Zivkovic said that the commanders of police units are surely under the control of President Aleksandar Vucic following the dismissal of SAJ commander police Colonel Spasoje Vulevic. Colonel Vulevic was dismissed as SAJ commander and offered a post in the Internal Affairs Ministry (MUP) which he refused and chose retirement.

Zivkovic retired earlier this year amid rumors that he was forced out of the police because his law student son was active in the student anti-government protests.

The retired police general said that attempts to replace the officer in command of the SAJ (a unit specialized in counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and similar operations but not in riot control) had been ongoing since 2023 adding that the process is long and complicated. According to him, the authorities do not want a fuss over the replacement of the SAJ commander. “Spasoje Vulevic is not important, the commander of the SAJ is. He is not important as an individual, the SAJ is important as a unit,” Zivkovic said and added that this is about attitudes towards institutions.

He warned that the SAJ as a unit can’t be under any kind of pressure or tension. “They have to be ready to respond immediately to whatever orders they get,” he said, adding that he isn’t sure the balance hasn’t been upset.

Zivkovic said he believes Vulevic was right when he said he was told that the SAJ was the only armed formation not under Vucic’s control because he was told something similar when he was retired.

He said there are senior police officers who are in their jobs despite being past the age of retirement such as the director of police and Gendarmerie commander.

According to him, the recently introduced personnel classification allows superiors to post commanders wherever they want instead of inviting applications for posts. This classification will allow personnel considered suspicious to be replaced with loyal people.

“I am sorry to see the police fully under political influence,” the retired general said.

He warned that the police activities at protests was selective, excessive and would lead to brutality and illegal action.