Serbian prosecution looking into cooperation between USAID and NGOs, without such request from US authorities

Serbian prosecution is looking into contracts on cooperation between non-governmental organizations in Serbia and the USAID, sparking reactions and questions why is it being done since no such request came from the US authorities.

“Why is the prosecutor’s office even looking into the contractual relations between certain entities, given that all those contracts went through reviews that are periodically being done? I think the prosecutor’s office should prove its efficiency in numerous other unresolved cases,” said attorney of the Civic Initiatives Milos Jankovic.

N1 addressed FBI, asking if that agency asked the Serbian authorities to deliver data on the USAID donations to NGOs in Serbia, if the Serbian police and prosecution informed FBI about their investigation, and if FBI is carrying out such investigation in the US.

Attorney Jankovic has filed a complaint but he expects that it would be rejected as ungrounded.

“Their argument will be that this is the practice, but the practice does not necessarily means it is legal,” he stressed.

Attorney Pavle Dimitrijevic deems that the aim was to release an image of raids being conducted and that some people are criminilized as dozens of police officers are seen around.

It remains to be seen whether this is a demonstration of power, intimidation or some pre-investigation activity.

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