Serbian police conducted surprise raids on four civil society organizations in Belgrade this week, escalating a probe into alleged misuse of USAID funds and money laundering. The crackdown follows former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2020 freeze of foreign aid programs and recent demands from Serbian prosecutors for detailed financial records.
State prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic confirmed authorities sought U.S. Department of Justice collaboration, citing concerns about non-targeted spending by NGOs receiving American development funds. We’re obligated to investigate any potential breaches of fiscal responsibility, Stefanovic stated during a press briefing.
This police action represents a direct assault on democratic freedoms and mirrors authoritarian tactics seen in neighboring countries,
declared Civic Initiatives, one of the raided organizations. The group’s election-monitoring counterpart CRTA acknowledged cooperating with investigators while maintaining its financial transparency.
The raids unfold against a backdrop of sustained anti-corruption protests targeting President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration. Analysts suggest the government aims to deflect scrutiny from domestic graft scandals by focusing on foreign-funded NGOs.
U.S. development assistance in the Balkans has supported:
- Democratic institution-building
- Energy infrastructure projects
- Independent media initiatives
Over $3 billion has flowed to Serbia since the 1990s, primarily through state channels. Opposition leaders argue this creates structural dependencies while failing to curb systemic corruption.
As international watchdogs express concern over shrinking civic space, the European Parliament recently passed a resolution condemning Serbia’s democratic backsliding. The Biden administration faces renewed pressure to reassess its Balkan aid strategy amid growing geopolitical tensions with Russia and China in the region.