Opposition Leader Believes Regime Will Sacrifice Minister Selakovic

Zdravko Ponos (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

In the scandal surrounding the removal of heritage status for the bombed Army of Serbia General Staff Building, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic has decided to sacrifice Culture Minister Nikola Selakovic and use him as a scapegoat, leader of the oppositional Serbia Center party Zdravko Ponos said on Dec. 4.

Speaking for Zrenjanjin’s KTV, Ponos claimed that Selakovic is not the only one who will have to end up on trial or in prison. Hence, the only question, he says, is whether the government will disband the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime or whether the Office will begin issuing arrest warrants.

“Selakovic is inconsequential. He was chosen to do as told and die in his consolation role. He was the same as chief of staff and in every one of his ministerial roles. Now Vucic has decided that Selakovic should show some courage and told him: ‘If you’re brave, I’ll protect you.’ So [Selakovic] appeared at the Prosecutor’s Office with [journalists from pro-regime tabloid] Informer. In fact, Vucic decided to sacrifice him,” Ponos stated.

According to the politician and former Serbian Army chief of general staff, the Prosecutor’s Office issuing arrest warrants would also raise the question of whether the police would act.

“Let them demand arrests, then let’s see whether the police will execute this. Eventually, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic will get his turn and begin explaining how he was not consulted on anything,” Ponos concluded.