Serbian IntMin says media trying to downplay Belivuk crimes for political gain

ALEKSANDAR VULIN
Tanjug/Jadranka Ilić

Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Aleksandar Vulin said on Thursday that some media are trying to downplay the crimes committed by Veljko Belivuk’s organized crime group.

Vulin told the Serbian parliament that the whole thing is being turned into a political issue which is supposed to influence coming elections and voters. According to him, a wave of organized efforts is in place to try to downplay the crimes committed by the Belivuk organized crime group and use them for political fighting and blackmail.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told parliament that the opposition has touched rock bottom, adding “instead of saying that we are united against killers and criminals, no we are united with killers and criminals against Aleksandar Vucic and the government”.

Veljko Belivuk and his closest associates were arrested earlier this year and charged with a number of crimes including murder and drug trafficking. He told prosecutors that he met with President Aleksandar Vucic and other state and ruling party officials who told him to stop some protests, take control of the Partizan FC supporters who are opposed to the Vucic regime. His statement was confirmed by one his lieutenants Marko Miljkovic later.

Vulin said that those statements were being reported as an absolute truth by the KRIK investigative news portal, NewsMax Adria and NIN weekly.