In Belgrade, Serbia, the police have conducted searches at the offices of at least four different civil society organizations. This action is part of an investigation into alleged misuse of funds from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) within the region. The probe follows a previous decision by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which involved freezing foreign funding for a period of 90 days back in January. This situation led to significant changes within the agency, including layoffs of over a thousand staff members.
Serbia’s state prosecutor, Nenad Stefanovic, stated that the country sought assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice to uncover any potential misuse or laundering of USAID funds within Serbia. He referenced public remarks by President Trump, State Secretary Marco Rubio, and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, highlighting concerns over the freeze of USAID funds.
A special anti-corruption department in Serbia has been actively involved, instructing the police to gather all relevant information and documentation concerning the use of USAID finances. The goal is to verify suspicions about mismanaging these funds, potential misuse, and any money laundering activities, as noted by Stefanovic.
Among the organizations affected by the raids, both the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA) and the Civic Initiatives reported police presence at their offices. CRTA, recognized for its role in monitoring elections independently within the Balkan state, expressed its cooperation with the authorities via a post on X. Meanwhile, Civic Initiatives criticized the operation, labeling it as a significant violation of fundamental civil rights and an extension of undue governmental pressure on Serbian civil society.
Their statement claimed that deploying police for such political motives signifies serious misuse of state organs aimed at suppressing dissent and stifling free and democratic operations in the country.
This police action occurs in the backdrop of ongoing anti-corruption protests faced by Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic and his administration. These demonstrations, primarily initiated by students, have grown into widespread anti-graft movements across Serbia, challenging Vucic’s leadership, who has openly aligned with U.S. President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
USAID has a long history of investment in the Balkans, having spent several billion dollars in nations like Serbia, Moldova, Kosovo, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina since the 1990s. The financial assistance aims to support the establishment of democratic institutions and reforms, improvement of infrastructure and energy security, and the growth of businesses and economies, along with supporting non-governmental organizations and independent media. In Serbia, according to accounts from opposition figures and independent media, a significant portion of these grants were allocated to state institutions.
