Serbia’s arrest of military union leaders for the second time intensifies tensions
Serbia’s judiciary arrests Military Union leaders Novica Antic and Predrag Jevtic again, intensifying national debates over military ethics and trade union rights
Serbia’s escalating tensions reached a new peak with the arrest and subsequent 30-day detention of Novica Antic and Predrag Jevtic, the president and general secretary of the Military Union of Serbia.
The Higher Court of Novi Sad informed BIRN that suspicions of embezzlement and co-perpetration led to this decision, overturning a previous ruling by a judge in the preliminary proceedings.
This incident marks the second time authorities have detained these union leaders within a week, signaling a growing conflict between military trade unionists and the Serbian military establishment.
Earlier, authorities had detained Antic, Jevtic, and Dusko Tomac on Tuesday. They later released Tomac, as confirmed by the High Court, but retained Antic and Jevtic in custody. They both have the right to appeal the detention decision.
The arrests occur in a broader context of tension between the military and the union. Defence Minister Milos Vucevic recently criticized the concept of military trade unions, calling it ‘stupidity,’ as reported by BIRN.
Antic, who has faced dismissal from the Serbian Army twice in recent years, publicly criticized the Serbian military leadership. In July 2023, his second dismissal coincided with the Military Union’s open letter to President Aleksandar Vucic, warning of a dire situation in the army.
Antic’s first dismissal in 2018 followed disciplinary proceedings linked to his trade union activities. However, the Administrative Court overturned these dismissals in February 2023, sending them back to the previous court for reconsideration, as per Danas newspaper.
It has been reported that Antic’s recent arrest, following a house search, comes amidst heightened militarization in Serbia. Defence Minister Vucevic’s revealed intentions to abolish military trade unions and Antic’s outspoken criticism of military leadership have intensified the unfolding conflict.
This confrontation aligns with a regional awakening about military officers’ conditions in the Balkans. Discussions at an EUROMIL-hosted roundtable in 2018, involving Serbian military trade unions and defense ministry representatives, highlighted the struggle for military personnel’s rights.
Moreover, Serbia’s increased military spending and reluctance to join EU sanctions against Russia, as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), signal a complex political landscape.
With President Vucic’s administration facing accusations of eroding democratic values and manipulating electoral results, as highlighted by Freedom House, Antic’s arrest and the stance against military trade unions become a focal point in the debate over Serbia’s commitment to democratization and labor rights.
Source: Newsroom
