Zvonko Veselinovic, a controversial businessman from northern Kosovo, has left Serbia and arrived in Istanbul. According to reporting by the investigative portal KRIK, he traveled from Sarajevo to Turkey this morning using a Serbian passport.
His move comes at a time when numerous businessmen and officials linked to the structures of the former government have begun being arrested in Serbia, following the defeat of Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbian Progressive Party in the snap parliamentary elections held on October 25.
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Political ties and SKY communications
Over the years, Veselinovic has been mentioned in security service reports, international sanctions documents and journalistic investigations examining the intersection of organized crime, politics and state contracts.
A KRIK investigation based on communications exchanged through the SKY application describes the influence Veselinovic allegedly wielded in Serbia’s political and security circles. The materials also show how companies linked to him secured high-value contracts from the state.
The published communications also mention his close relationship with Andrej Vucic, the brother of former Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
According to the messages, Veselinovic was also able to influence appointments within the police. In 2020, he reportedly opposed the appointment of Veselin Miliq, who at the time headed the Directorate of Criminal Police, to the post of police director.
The messages claim that, through Andrej Vucic, Veselinovic had made it known that he would no longer support the Serbian Progressive Party if Miliq were appointed to the position.
Miliq is facing trial for failing to report a murder that took place at the “27” restaurant in Belgrade’s Senjak district.
The SKY communications also discuss Veselinovic’s economic activities. His construction company, Inkop, has been involved in major infrastructure projects in Serbia, while the value of contracts linked to these companies amounted to millions of euros.
“Brother, do you know how many millions he is getting? And they still seem too little to him,” reads one of the messages sent by a member of a rival criminal group in reference to Veselinovic.
Sanctions from the United States and the United Kingdom
The U.S. Treasury Department added Veselinovic to its sanctions list in December 2021. U.S. authorities described him as the leader of an organized criminal group suspected of corruption and illegal activities between Serbia and Kosovo.
According to the U.S. assessment, the group relied on ties to certain politicians and security officials and was involved in the smuggling of goods, money, drugs and weapons.
In December 2022, the United Kingdom also imposed sanctions on Veselinovic. London said he had benefited from corruption by improperly securing public contracts for his companies.
However, even after international sanctions were imposed, companies linked to him continued to be involved in infrastructure projects in Serbia, as Radio Free Europe had previously reported.
Mention in the investigation into Oliver Ivanovic’s murder
Veselinovic has also been mentioned in connection with the investigation into the murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic. The latter was killed on January 16, 2018, in North Mitrovica.
Kosovo’s prosecution had placed Veselinovic and his blood brother, Milan Radoicic, in the context of a criminal group suspected of organizing the murder.
However, Veselinovic has not been indicted in the case. Radio Free Europe reported that his name, as well as Radoicic’s, had been mentioned in the prosecution’s allegations, but no proceedings had been opened against them through an indictment.
Istanbul and Balkan criminal clans
Veselinovic’s departure for Istanbul is seen as a development that could be linked to the fact that Turkey has previously been used as a refuge by several members of Balkan criminal clans. Jovan Vukotic, one of the leaders of the Skaljari clan, had also hidden in the country for a period before he was killed in Istanbul in 2022.
So far, however, there is no publicly available information clarifying the reason for Veselinovic’s trip to Istanbul. It has also not been confirmed whether his departure is connected to an escape from any possible proceedings by the competent authorities.
