Serbian police official detained on abuse of office charges

Marko Kricak, the director of Serbia’s criminal police directorate, is accused of interfering with and altering an investigation into the May murder of a suspected criminal at a Belgrade restaurant.

The 42-year-old Kricak was considered an ally of former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose political coalition lost to the opposition Student List in parliamentary elections held on October 25.

Student groups previously accused Kricak of excessive force during police responses to demonstrations protesting Vucic’s leadership. The removal of Kricak and other individuals loyal to Vucic within Serbia’s police and intelligence agencies was a key demand of the student movement.

Belgrade’s chief prosecutor, Nenad Stefanovic, stated that Kricak’s arrest is unrelated to the outcome of the recent elections. “This arrest has no link with … the result of the legislative elections,” he said.

The arrest of a high-ranking police officer with ties to the previous administration is being interpreted by some as a sign of weakening support for the Vucic government.

Prior to his law enforcement career, Kricak worked as a car salesperson before joining Serbia’s domestic intelligence agency, the BIA. He was a dedicated supporter of Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

In July 2023, Kricak was appointed commander of the Serbian police’s personal protection unit (JZO). He was subsequently appointed head of the Serbian Criminal Police at the end of 2025. It is alleged that while in this role, he directed the abduction of several university students, including an incident where a female student was allegedly assaulted and threatened in a government building basement in Belgrade.