"I saw from the signatures of the petition to support the students that a large part of the policemen were afraid. In their demands, the students ask for the work of institutions and the rule of law. That is why MUP exists. But, of course, there is also that smaller part of the police that this system suits, because they are unjustly rich and find themselves in positions that they would never have been in if this country had been organized."
Majorka police officer from Valjevo Katarina Petrović decided to launch a petition to support members Ministry of the Interior convinced the students that these young people want to achieve the rule of law, and that the task of the police is to enable them to do so. By the way, due to two statements that she believes that the police work much more in the interest of the government than the citizens, a disciplinary procedure was initiated against her.
The public learned about Katarina Petrović when, in the public interest, she made available the MUP report that Nikola Petrović, the godfather of the President of Serbia, caused a traffic accident on Dedinja under the influence of cocaine and alcohol in March 2023. She was then suspended, and in November last year it was announced that the first-instance disciplinary decision had been lifted.
"WEATHER" A few days ago, information circulated on social networks that you were taken into custody. You quickly denied those allegations. What exactly happened?
KATARINA PETROVIC: I'm not sure from which sources it came, but there were several variations on social media that I was arrested again. This happened - I assume - because people do not distinguish between what are criminal proceedings before the Prosecutor's Office and what are disciplinary proceedings. A new disciplinary procedure has been initiated against me, and the previous one, which caused me to be removed from my job, has not been completed either. When that rumor got out, my husband and parents got a lot of calls. I denied everything so that people who are not close to me and my family would know that I was not detained.
Because of which another disciplinary procedure was initiated against you?
The initiative to start this procedure was written on December 2 of the previous year, and on December 27, the Conclusion on starting the disciplinary procedure was adopted. The occasion was my statements in September 2024, and after that in November. In principle, I said then that I believe that the police are more in the capacity of the government than in the capacity of citizens. That statement is nothing special - as if I said that it is better to live in peace than in war.
After everything you've been through and are going through - did you expect continued persecution from the top police?
On the one hand, I am because my superior and the top of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are running from mistake to mistake. I guess it is, in a way, a continuation of the persecution. The same is happening to my husband - also a police officer - against whom disciplinary proceedings were also initiated at the end of last year. The reason was one of his posts on social networks, in which there is absolutely nothing bad or dangerous. But here, they grab everything to break us. As the very word "disciplinary" says - to discipline us. And they do that only because our views do not agree with the system in this country.
The manhunt against you started after you made it possible for the public to gain insight into the report on the traffic accident, which was hidden by Vučić's godfather, Nikola Petrović. Do you think it's revenge??
Yes, I definitely think so. It is both revenge and a demonstration exercise for everyone else on how they will fare if they dare to say something. From the start, it is a story in which we as police officers are not allowed to comment, think or act in social life, even unrelated to politics. They are already calling me a politician, even though I constantly disassociate myself from it. I am not a member of any political party, nor am I in contact with any party. Police officers have the opportunity to say something somewhere, but they are afraid because they may not know enough about the regulations, the Constitution and the laws that protect us. We are obliged to go out and point out irregularities. The police is a hierarchically specific, closed institution, so it takes a certain amount of courage to come forward. Every attempt they make to blame me again is disciplining me and everyone else who would say something. In the meantime, information is coming out from the MUP every day that is much more interesting and dangerous than something I said.
What does your life look like now??
I struggle and try to stay mentally and physically healthy. I have, first of all, huge support from my family. My finances have been reduced significantly - by 50 percent. There is my family that shares everything with me, so it's easier for me. It's not easy, it's a big fight, but I've learned not to back down, especially in situations where I'm convinced that I'm doing something that's right and in the general interest, that is, it helps to restore some universal values. I fight for things that are abnormal to remain in the domain of abnormal, not to normalize bad things.
Why did you decide to publish a student support petition intended for members of the MUP-a? Based on your experience, how police officers perceive these protests?
This is best seen in small communities, where on the one hand you have police officers doing their job, and maybe they have family members who are active in protests and blockades. I think we all have the same task now.
I also saw from the signatures of the petition in support of the students that a large part of the police officers have lost their fear. In their demands, the students ask for the work of institutions and the rule of law. That is why MUP exists. But, of course, there is also that smaller part of the policemen that this system suits because they get unjustly rich and find themselves in positions that they would never be in if this country were regulated. When someone gives you something that doesn't belong to you, you defend it with your life and hide behind institutions.
Do you think the police are doing a good job when it comes to securing student protests and blockades??
The police have been doing well for the last month or two. Nevertheless, the protests have been going on for about three months, and in the beginning there were indeed mistakes and inadequate reactions by the police. I'm particularly referring to the event in front of the City Hall in Novi Sad, where members of the MUP practically allowed vandalism to happen, without them reacting. That and a few arrests that involved excessive use of force aside, the police are now doing their job as they should. I am thinking especially of the police in Valjevo, who ensure every protest in a very professional manner. People are safe here and they don't have to worry about a car or vehicle passing by that could hurt someone.
Yet, in Belgrade, two young people almost lost their lives after they were run over by cars during protests. Could the police have done more in these cases??
I think that the problem is that sometimes we have a very small number of police officers who secure gatherings, especially in big cities. This is especially visible in Belgrade, where at the same time you have various protests in several locations and the police cannot control every individual. Those persons who ran into students and citizens had, I'm sure, an instigator who gave them the green light to do those things. Otherwise, he is incompetent for many things, and he asks about everything.
Aleksandar Vučić said on several occasions that the police should ensure all blockades and gatherings. And that question is outside the domain of his jurisdiction, isn't it?
This is the first time I comment on him personally, I don't even like to mention him for many reasons. He decided a long time ago to solve all our problems personally. We don't need anyone begging us to do what we are paid to do. At the end of the day, our supreme employers are the citizens, we should serve them because we are officials and we are accountable to them for what we do. An incompetent president should deal with his work within his jurisdiction, from which he jumps out every day. And I think that the Constitutional Court would have to make an announcement about it, which would say what we all see, which is that he violates the Constitution every day.
The petition of the police officers is commented from the position of the authorities as destroying the reputation of the institution. What kind of reputation are they talking about considering that the police force has officially been without a director for three years?
From my point of view, I think that with my public appearances, I managed to raise the reputation of the MUP to a higher level and to show people that there are officers in the police who think like me and who need to do their job the way they were taught. From the point of view of these others who protect their position, I am someone who falls out of that system. That, of course, all depends on who has what interests. My interest is general, common and above any personal one, regardless of whether tomorrow I will be doing this same job or be in a higher position or without a job. In that case, I would do any honorable job to save face and my views, and that is my way of thinking.
The Bar Association of Serbia enters into a thirty-day suspension of work. What does this strike show??
Lawyers are a very important activity and profession for the functioning of the judicial system. I support their decision to suspend work because they respect the minimum work process within the strike. For example, in situations where individuals are deprived of their liberty or in proceedings against minors. I support that strike because it ensures some minimum protection of rights, and on the other hand, it puts pressure on all institutions. Even if we move out of the security system, pressure is exerted on all public companies, water supply, utility companies. People feel the pressures in every segment of society. It seems to me because of all these protests that people are getting rid of that fear and standing up regardless of the consequences.
Do you perceive the student protests and the participation of numerous social groups in them as a collective awakening?
I think that we are witnessing a new chapter in our lives and that the students and their awakening are solely responsible for this. Before that, many people lived with the mistaken belief that young people are disinterested and mind their own business, when in fact they are so creative and organized. They woke us all up because they are the link between the older ones and the younger ones who say: "When I grow up, I will be a student". They really woke us up with their organization and their enthusiasm. I was at a protest in Novi Sad and, apart from the student security service, which does its job phenomenally, I experienced the energy of togetherness and support. I am convinced that we are on the way to a better and more orderly society.
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