October 1, 2017
Following the publishing of a story on investigative journalism portal KRIK about how Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin cannot provide evidence of the origins of over €200,000 that he used to buy an apartment, his party, the Movement of Socialists, began issuing insults against KRIK editor Stevan Dojcinovic.
The Movement of Socialists, which forms part of the government coalition, issued press releases for days in which it described Dojcinovic, among other things, as a drug addict, calling on him to take a drugs test.
While the domestic and international journalistic community condemns the campaign against Dojcinovic, contrasting comments are emanating from the top of the state. Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said that she “understands the emotional reaction of the Movement of Socialists”, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that Vulin “hasn’t stolen anything while in government”.
To recap, Vulin’s official explanation was that he borrowed the money from his wife’s Canadian aunt and, as there are no records of the transaction, he told KRIK journalists that he brought the amount of 9,000 euros into the country several times, given that bringing amounts exceeding €10,000 from abroad must be registered with the state.
