Former police chiefs urge officers to respect Constitution in Serbia

Two former senior police officials in Serbia, Boro Banjac, the former head of the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (UBPOK), and Rodoljub Milović, the former chief of the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP), have urged active officers to follow the Constitution, the law and their professional code, according to the weekly magazine Radar.

The magazine published their joint message to serving police officers. In it, the two former commanders said the country’s deep political crisis has created a heavy burden for the police, especially amid repeated incidents that have raised concerns about public safety and the safety of officers themselves.

They told officers not to hide their faces, to wear their identification badges again, and to defend the Constitution and the law with dignity. Their statement also called on police to uphold the professional and moral standards inherited from earlier generations of officers.

The appeal comes only days after another public message from former security officials. That earlier statement, signed by 300 veterans and officials from the security sector, including former leaders of the Security Information Agency, the national police and the Military Intelligence Agency, also called on police and security personnel to remain loyal to the Constitution, the law and their duty.

The two statements add to a wider public debate over the role of the security services in Serbia’s political tensions. For readers following the issue, similar developments have been covered in Serbia News’ latest news section.

Neither message says it reflects a formal policy decision. Both are appeals from retired officials to serving personnel, aimed at officers who are now working in a politically charged environment.