All in the case of the so-called Novi Sad groups it would be a Monty Python comedy if it did not contain many tragic elements. In order to prove that the students and citizens in the rebellion are actually terrorists, thanks to - it was visible from the plane at the very beginning - the illegal sound system of the premises of Novi Sad PSG, twelve activists ended up either in long months, first under house arrest and then under house arrest, or in political exile. Why? Well, because they were talking about possible scenarios of the protest that will be held on March 15 in Belgrade. People who wouldn't even step on an ant, unlike, say, the clientele of Ćaciland. Apart from the illegal recording, the state has no evidence against them. If we exclude the chicken eggs, which the police triumphantly found.
It is equally tragic that from this case we received an unequivocal confirmation that Bia and many institutions have turned into ordinary SNS pallia. That our country is on the threshold of becoming or has already become a primitive despotism in which political opponents are eavesdropped, arrested and convicted of terrorism. It will be that in this case there were many criminal acts, but those acts were not committed by those accused of preparing the coup d'état, but on the contrary - by those who persecute them.
In the sea of legal and logical nebulae that accompany this case, we recently learned about another one. Bia did not eavesdrop on any of the twelve, but on some mysterious person, so as if by chance she recorded the incriminated conversation, promptly identified all the participants, edited the recording and forwarded it to all the regime's television stations. Then it turned out that the mysterious person is actually the People's Deputy of the PSG from Novi Sad, a well-known local veterinarian, Ana Oreg. Why was she followed? She was allegedly in contact with the Hungarian opposition!? You can think! The secret measures against her lasted for a long time, and maybe they are still going on, and they are of such a scale that they would only make sense if it were some kind of international terrorist or a mass murderer on steroids who is temporarily working in Serbia.
"WEATHER" All this works., at least, insanely. Could you have ever suspected that you were being followed for months as the most dangerous criminal? Were there any clues?
ANA OREG: We from the opposition have long believed that the secret services are monitoring our activities in some way, as we know that Bia has been an outpost of the Serbian Progressive Party for a long time. When the recording of the conversation in the premises of the PSG in Novi Sad appeared on regime television, I never thought for a moment that it was created, as it turned out, as a result of surveillance on me. I didn't even think that when a text appeared on the "Insider" portal, from which we learned that the person being followed did not attend the meeting at all, that she was under measures since May 22 last year, and that the most extensive possible measures were eventually applied against her: both physical monitoring and secret recording, both in public and in less accessible places. This means that they could also eavesdrop on a private apartment. I said to myself: there's no way it's me! Regardless of the fact that during this period some strange situations really happened to me, which I attributed to the paranoia in which we all live. The ringing of the phone has not been unusual for me for a long time, almost everyone complains about it.
When it was announced that I had been on the measures since May 2024, I remembered that this was the period before the local elections in Novi Sad. It seems that it was practical for them, following me, to eavesdrop on internal party discussions in the PSG, but also on the entire pre-election opposition-coalition agreements and negotiations, in order to know what the opposition is planning for the local elections. Given that I was actively participating in the negotiations, maybe I could have thought that I was the one being tapped, but it all seemed so crazy and pointless, so I didn't even think about it. I could hardly believe it when a journalist from "Danasa", who came into possession of the complete indictment, called me and asked me to comment on this monitoring.
photo: private archive...
How did you react when you found out??
I was in complete shock. In order for someone to be subject to measures, especially such extensive ones, he should represent a serious threat to the security of the state, or there should be evidence that he has committed or is planning to commit serious crimes. Regardless of the fact that we believed that the government's moves could no longer surprise us, how could one not be shocked! This shows how pointless everything is: if they had found even one basis for suspecting that I was, say, preparing a coup d'état or planning some serious crime, I would probably have been in detention or prison a long time ago. In addition, the follow-up was extended every three months and took an increasingly comprehensive form. By the way, almost all of the orders were signed by the controversial president of the Belgrade High Court, Dragan Milošević, about whose dubious judgments and activities research centers wrote about in previous years. By the way, I don't know if my monitoring measures have stopped, since the indictment only states the date they were put in place. Maybe even now, while we are talking, they are eavesdropping on us.
Milosevic signed it "legalized" tracking, however, both you and the lawyers claim that it is still illegal.
It is illegal because, as I said, there is no evidence that I was in any way a threat to national security. Second, the reason for the measures is also meaningless, I was allegedly in contact with opposition Hungarian parties. And I didn't. And even if I did, would that be a reason to treat me as an international terrorist! And even if I did, it could eventually bother Viktor Orban and not the state of Serbia, since he wants to save the votes of Vojvodina's Hungarians in the upcoming elections in Hungary, which are very uncertain.
Of course, it is also completely illegal that they used the video that was created as a result of my monitoring to persecute members of PSG and "Stava". I hope that the proceedings will therefore be suspended at the first hearing against them, which is scheduled for November 24.
PSG's sound-proof rooms hosted various opposition talks. Therefore, it is quite certain that those conversations were also recorded, not only in the pre-election period, but during this entire period. Logically speaking, they could also sound the premises of other opposition parties in Novi Sad, which you are by nature of party activity - visited?
Yes, it is quite possible that they used the measures against me to eavesdrop on the entire opposition in Novi Sad. And not only that. On the day when the conversation between the activists in Novi Sad was recorded, I was sitting in the Belgrade offices of our party. Realistically, the meetings there were probably eavesdropped and recorded. As I said, we know that the BIA works in the interests of the SNS, no one doubts that. But now for the first time we have an official paper confirming it. This is really quite a big scandal, not only in our area. I am convinced that it will end up in the documents of the European Union and various international organizations and institutions. There will be very harsh criticism. Such a thing is unimaginable in a democratic and civilized country, that the secret service listens to the opposition through a member of parliament.
It is logical to assume that you are not the only MP who is ( ) on the measurements, bearing in mind the official reason for those measures. Serbia is in the so-called. the process of European integration, not only politicians but also non-governmental activists, both those close to the government and those independent, they have meetings with strangers almost on a daily basis. Some parties are, like PSG, and members of European party associations. Does this mean that anyone in this country can be on similar measures?
Yes. I would say, journalists too. After what happened to me, I am convinced that I am not alone. Now we have a formal document that shows what Bia actually does, and which also confirms that we are back in the nineties. Maybe it's not appropriate, and maybe it is - this is what I'm going to say: Stambolić and Ćuruvija were at these measures!
On the other hand, the efficiency of Bija is incredible. Eto, they were eavesdropping on you, so then they realized that you are not there, but then they continued filming... So then they promptly, over night, find out all the names of the participants, packed it up and delivered it to the televisions... Then they arrested them at their homes....
Apparently, they listened, recorded and analyzed the conversations in the party premises for a long time. People who have been arrested or who have found themselves in political exile have been annoying the government for a long time, so they certainly have their files. They turned out to be the ideal victim. With the help of the video, the regime produced a "big scandal", which aimed to intimidate people from coming to the protest on March 15, because it seems that some sort of riots, coups and the like are being prepared. Secondly, they used it to quarrel the opposition with the students, to make the students think that the opposition is planning to create some disorder, which of course is not true. So they were just talking about possible outcomes, scenarios, and there were a million such conversations in those days. Thirdly, Vučić used this as proof that a colored revolution is underway in Serbia, which he has defeated so many times so far.
These people were imprisoned on the basis of illegal wiretapping, it is now abundantly clear. But even if it was not illegal, there is no criminal offense in their conversation, nor its preparation. Neither in the premises of the party nor in their private houses were found any means of committing a criminal offense, such as Molotov cocktails, hammers or the like. Only eggs were found. So, people were detained for months because they tried to stage a coup d'état with eggs.
When did they broadcast the recording?, regime television claimed that one of the participants in the conversation recorded it and delivered it to them, because it is not "wanted to overthrow the state".
Nonsense, like everything else. It only shows that they were aware that the wiretapping was illegal. In what parallel universe do the tabloids have an advantage over the prosecution? That is playing the state.
You said that you were also tapped because you were pointing "to irregularities, corruption and disputed business connections between the Serbian Progressive Party, Association of Vojvodina Hungarians and companies connected with the interests of Aleksandar Vučić and Viktor Orban".
For years I have been speaking and writing about the Orban-Vučić-SVM triple pact. Orban and Vučić understand each other very well because they govern in a similar way. Things are not so brachial in Hungary, but the principle is the same. Orban is counting on 65.000 votes from Vojvodina, Vučić helps him in this, and in return Hungary represents Serbia's interests in the EU, votes against declarations about Serbia, and the like. It is a political dimension, and there are also business ones. Hungarian companies very often get various lucrative jobs in Serbia. For example, the supervision of the reconstruction of the Railway Station in Novi Sad was carried out by a Hungarian company. She may be more responsible than the contractor. There are many other dubious "deals", some of which we know about, and some of which have not yet reached the public.
For years, I have also criticized the Alliance of Vojvodina Hungarians, which connects Orban and Vučić. It is a party that has two masters. When elections are held in Hungary, activists of this party go door to door, bringing ballots to Vojvodina Hungarians. With an offer to help them fill them out. And when we look at the concrete results of Orban's, Vučić's and SVM's care for the Vojvodina Hungarians, what do we get? The number of Hungarians between the two election cycles decreased by a third, despite the large sums of money that Hungary sent to local Hungarians through the "Prosperitati" foundation, which ended up who knows where. I am angry with SVM and because they rule within the Hungarian community in Vojvodina in the same way as Fides and SNS. They cruelly destroy every alternative and every criticism.
Both Orban and Vučić are seriously shaking their thrones. If Orban slips up, how it will affect the political representatives of Vojvodina Hungarians?
I think SVM should worry about its future, considering the ratings of the two masters. What this party has been doing in recent years completely delegitimizes them to represent the interests of Vojvodina Hungarians in the future. The change of government in Hungary will lead to major political changes within our Hungarian community, it will be a huge wind in the back of all critics of SVM.
It is possible that there will be turbulence inside the SVM?
Absolutely. I am surprised that this party has not split yet.
Let's move on to other current events. Vučić announced the progressive meeting in Novi Sad that will be held "bigger" from the commemorative meeting that was held on 1. November. No, and this time that meeting was cancelled. Why Vučić is not allowed in Novi Sad?
I can't understand his obsession with numbers, especially when it comes to the November 1 rally, which was commemorative. And now you are organizing some kind of more numerous counter-commemoration!? Then, the obsession with copying all the moves of students and citizens in rebellion: counter rallies, counter students, counter hunger strikers... Vučić has practically not been in Novi Sad for a year, because he knows how it will go. Of course, I don't think anything will happen to him, but he would certainly experience great humiliation, the citizens would boo him. It could not be hidden. Even when he was in the vicinity of Novi Sad, to visit the works on the bridge near Kovil, all the roads in the five-kilometer district were closed, so that no one could even come close.
The very next day, the accent from the magnificent commemoration in Novi Sad was transferred to the events in front of the Assembly of Serbia. You already said, we believe that the government cannot surprise us, and yet she always surprises us. This time with completely inhumane actions directed against Diana Hrka?
I've been thinking about it for days. What happened to those people who enjoy the suffering of a woman who lost her son? It's as if the progressives went around the whole of Serbia and brought every sociopath and psychopath to Ćaciland.
Recently, a new Law on Voters' List was adopted. The opposition did not vote for him. How much can be achieved by changing the law?-so many more regular elections or students, the opposition and the citizens must win despite all the electoral irregularities?
I am not at all pessimistic, this law cannot change the electoral conditions for the better. At best, it may prevent them from getting worse. Whoever steps up to Vučić's line, should be aware that he will try to steal them this time as well.
This leads to the question of the relationship between the opposition parties and the student movement, which is a topic that has been discussed for a long time. Is it possible to find some common denominator there?, at least when it comes to election conditions and control of the election process?
There is no doubt that from the beginning the entire opposition supports the student protests and their demands, including the demand to call extraordinary parliamentary elections. There is also a will within the opposition to help students in all capacities. However, it should be borne in mind that a campaign against politicians and political organizations has been conducted for many years, and that it has produced results. The students managed to do all that they did not only because they represent youth and hope but also because they are not recognized as politicians. And it is understandable that they avoid contacts with opposition parties because of this. However, I think that some kind of communication should be established. I am sure that the opposition can be useful to the student movement.
We saw that, let's say, The Democratic Party unconditionally stood by the students, will also support the student list, ceding the entire infrastructure to it. What is PSG's position??
We absolutely support students in every way, there is no dispute about that. What is important to us is how the student list will look like. For PSG, it would be important for it to be a pro-European list, which would be logical considering that all student actions and demands are in line with European values. The pro-European list is significant because we are in a specific foreign policy environment, and joining the EU is of fateful importance for our country. The moment they are announced, when we know the names of the people on the student list and their program, then we will decide and see what is the most effective way to make this evil go away. We won't do anything that could benefit this regime, be sure of that.
Finally, a question about the group photo from Washington, from the reception at the Embassy of Serbia, where you are together with Dragan Šutanovec and members of the ruling parties. There is also the Green MP.-left front. That photo caused stormy criticism on social networks. Kao, while students and activists are in detention, you take a picture with a representative of the regime. How do you comment on that?
When this question is asked, I like to emphasize that I am proud of PSG's international contacts. I think we have done a lot in terms of international understanding of the political situation in Serbia, including for our detainees. The resolution of the European Parliament, which included the fact that we have political prisoners, contributed to their transfer to house arrest and then to their release. Of course, this was influenced by the pressure of citizens on the street and all other forms of struggle, but international pressure should not be underestimated either.
I was in Washington for the second time this year - the first time in April as part of the "pure" opposition delegation, PSG and ZLF. The second time within the "Open world" program, where we were joined by members of the SNS and SPS in the delegation - there were five of us in total. Visiting our embassy in such delegations is, unfortunately, a matter of protocol. I say "unfortunately" because we are in a specific situation in Serbia where many things are not forgiven, not even going to Šutanovac, even if it was a protocol. Even if the photo was taken only to document the realization of the program and even if it was published outside of any protocol.
Natalija Stojmenović and I, as opposition MPs, went to present "our" side of the story because the government representatives, for example, said that Russia was actually behind the student and civil protests in Serbia, that the students "carry only Russian flags" and not EU flags. We stopped that and cited examples — students went to Brussels and Strasbourg, both by bike and on foot — so those claims are not true. Our goal was to provide accurate information to those who are interested in the real situation in Serbia.
There were reactions within your party as well. The president of PSG apologized for the photo.
I can understand that and I can talk about it openly. Pavle Grbović said that the recording should not have been made and apologized. I consider that correct. Today, everything is looked at through a big magnifying glass. People have lost confidence, often with good reason. One is only looking for a reason to declare someone a "traitor" or a "collaborator". I understand the sensitivity and the paranoia, and I'm sorry that the public was upset. I also hereby apologize for that - but there really was no bad intention.
I'm not sure all this has anything to do with my following. The members of SNS obviously knew about the measures, long before I did. Given that they could have assumed that the news of my surveillance would be in the public eye, they may have tried to discredit my opposition work by publishing that photo.
