KRAGUJEVAC –
Former president of the Military Union, Novica Antić, was arrested today in Kragujevac on suspicion of "posting false announcements on social media, convincing citizens that the Serbian Army was preparing a coup," RTS reports. The suspect has been detained for up to 48 hours, and within that period, he will be brought for questioning to the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade.
The arrest operation was carried out, as RTS has learned, on the order of the Special Department for Combating High-Tech Crime of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade due to suspicion that "Antić spread false information with the aim of causing panic and disorder."
Source: Tanjug (video screenshot)
On his "X" social media profile, Antić posted on October 15th that units of the Serbian Army were "practicing tactical actions of combat in a populated area, in nighttime conditions, a few days before the elections, during a period not designated for training."
"I went through this in August and September 2000. Does this smell like a coup?" Antić stated, among other things.
Regarding the video on social media showing exercises of members of the Serbian Army, the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Army announced that it was a "planned inspection of the state, operational, and functional capabilities of one of the special units by the Defense Inspectorate."
"The activity was carried out in the wider area of the 'Pasuljanske livade' training ground, in the evening hours of October 14th, and according to a pre-defined plan of inspection which includes the deployment of various tactical positions by controlled units of the Serbian Army," the statement said.
It was added that, considering the specific purpose of the controlled unit, which carries out tasks throughout the entire territory of our country, in various weather and terrain conditions, a tactical situation was set up on this occasion to check the readiness of the engaged forces for performing tasks in an urban environment.
It is noted that only exercise ammunition was used during the activity.
"The Ministry of Internal Affairs, local self-government bodies, the 'Južni Kučaj' Forest Management, and the Hunting Association of Central Serbia were informed about the plans for carrying out training activities in the wider area of 'Pasuljanske livade', using off-road vehicles, drones, and exercise ammunition," the statement said.
