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Serbia 2019 Crime & Safety Report

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Serbia 2019 Crime & Safety Report Serbia 2019 Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Serbia at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to crime. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The U.S. Embassy in Belgrade does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. Review OSAC’s Serbia-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Crime Threats There is considerable risk from crime in Belgrade. As reported by the Serbian Interior Ministry, the overall crime rate in Belgrade decreased in 2018. There were decreases in the number of overall crimes reported by 7.5%. However, the considerable risk from crime is due to the activities of Organized Crime (OC) groups, as Serbia is a main trafficking route from the east to Europe. Rival OC groups target each other in a competitive market, as an ongoing turf war between OC groups over drug distribution rights, resulting in many acts of violence, to include assassination by firearms and explosives. Serbia’s Interior Ministry stated that the police and prosecutors have “shed light” on around 80% of the murders in Serbia. However, Serbian reports 29 people died in OC-related murders in 2018, doubling the number from the previous year. None of these murders resulted in a criminal conviction, and half the cases lack even a single suspect. Approximately 82 OC murders occurred over the last five years, and the 29 last year represents a dramatic spike. Out of the 82 murders, the killers remain unknown in 60% of the cases. Only seven cases have been prosecuted in a courtroom. Local media reporting notes that in 2018, 40 OC attacks (including many of the murders referenced above) occurred in Belgrade, most involving firearms or car bombs. The attacks occurred at random times and in all areas of the city, including affluent neighborhoods. There is a continuous risk of collateral damage to the general population from such attacks, but no indication that any incident targeted U.S. citizens. In October 2018, in Beton Hala, an upscale riverfront area with clubs and restaurants frequented by tourists and diplomats, masked hooligans armed with bats and pipes entered Komitet Nightclub, assaulted staff and patrons, and inflicted property damage to the club. The police eventually arrested five hooligans associated with the Partizan football fan club. 1 Later that month, a group of men, again believed to be football hooligans, chased several young women and a man into a downtown café (Koffein 2) very popular with expats and locals alike, and proceeded with a physical assault on the café’s staff and customers, again causing physical damage to the café. Police responded to the scene after multiple calls for assistance, but declined to arrest any of the perpetrators. In 2016, masked men, purported to be OC elements, demolished a gentrifying art district in downtown Belgrade, known as Savamala, with construction vehicles in the middle of the night. Local police disregarded emergency calls; authorities made no attempt to stop the destruction, as locals were ushered out of the area. City and federal officials have yet to hold anyone accountable in spite of internal investigations citing collusion and preplanning by local police and city officials. Though this event does not directly affect the safety and security of diplomatic communities or visitors, it creates serious questions about the rule of law, as OC elements seem able to operate with impunity and with the apparent complicity of law enforcement and government authorities. Serbia is known for its vibrant nightlife. Belgrade has become a major spring break destination for European partygoers who seek out its pubs, bars, clubs, and floating discos (splav). A number of these establishments owned by Balkan OC elements serve as social clubs and bases of operation for criminal gang members. Be mindful of personal safety if you chose to patronize the following splavs that have been marked off-limits to U.S. Embassy personnel: Plastic, Splav Slep, and Mr. Stefan Braun. Rapidly escalating confrontations ending in violent assaults, sometimes involving weapons, have occurred at these establishments. Serbia has a large contingent of “sports fan clubs” that support Serbian professional sports teams. Club members are often 15-25 years old and are commonly referred to as “football hooligans.” A number of these clubs have very strong ties to criminal, right-wing, and ultra-nationalist organizations. Authorities often struggle to curb violence inside sporting events and around their venues. In the past several years, there have been instances of foreign fans violently assaulted and, in one case, killed. This risk also extends to sports pubs, where hooligans have attacked patrons or passersby for wearing an opposing team’s jersey. These hooligans are often the culprits in turf wars between criminal organizations, and have strong ties within the political structure in Serbia. Use caution when attending local soccer matches, and when in close proximity to soccer arenas. Avoid attending any matches between Belgrade’s rival teams: Red Star, Partizan, and Rad. Street crime does occur. Most crimes against visitors are crimes of opportunity. Pickpocketing in tourist areas is common, especially in the Knez Mihailova pedestrian street (“Walking Street”), at the Kalemegdan Fortress, and on the public transportation systems. Criminals often work in well- orchestrated groups using distraction and misdirection techniques to steal from unsuspecting victims. Residential burglaries are not relegated to specific areas of the city; the diplomatic communities, despite increased police presence and security, are also susceptible to these crimes. Most incidents occur while occupants are away from home, so residents should ensure they lock all doors and arm all alarms. In 2018, no official U.S. residences in Belgrade were burglarized. 2 Vehicle theft is also a concern. Volkswagen and Opel vehicles are popular targets for thieves. Cars left unattended or unlocked with items visible from the outside fall victim to crimes of opportunity. Consider using secondary locking devices (e.g. steering wheel, transmission locks) and fuel kill switches, as thieves can easily overcome vehicle alarm systems; criminals and the public alike generally ignore audible vehicle alarms. Cybersecurity Issues The incidence of recorded cases of internet-based crime in Serbia grew by over 15% in 2017 and by over 20% in 2018, largely because of rapidly expanding internet use. Anecdotal evidence indicates that cyber criminals target employees of prominent companies due to the perception of wealth associated with these companies. The skill level of cyber criminals varies widely; a subset of these criminals can pose a threat to travelers and organizations with inadequate security postures. Despite a growing number of arrests, out of 252 reported cybercrimes in 2017, there was only one indictment. One challenge is insufficient technical equipment available to prosecutors in pre-trial and criminal proceedings, especially for the review of evidence. Other Areas of Concern Serbia does not recognize the borders of Kosovo as international borders, and has no mechanism to allow foreigners to enter Serbia from Kosovo without a prior arrival in Serbia. U.S. Embassy employees may cross the Serbia-Kosovo border on personal travel. However, Serbia generally will not allow travel of foreigners from Kosovo to Serbia if the traveler did not cross a Serbian border (by air or from other countries by road) first. Unexploded land mines and ordnance (UXO) from the 1990s Balkan conflicts remain an ongoing concern; treat certain areas, including Mount Kopaonik (a popular ski resort), with caution. In general, stay on established paths, especially in areas that were part of the conflict. Transportation-Safety Situation For more information, OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Road Safety and Road Conditions Within Belgrade, roads are poorly maintained and marked, and often have many potholes. Roads are often too narrow for larger vehicles to drive within the marked lanes. Parking is difficult due to small spaces. Roads, including newly built highways, are not designed or engineered with safety in mind, and many intersections, traffic circles, and major highways have little/no area to merge, multiple intersecting roads, and poor traffic signals. Some secondary roads, particularly in the mountainous south, are in poor repair and not cleared of snow (or are closed entirely) during the winter. 3 Driving is a challenging experience; impatient drivers coupled with high speed, reckless/aggressive driving, and sometimes ambiguous lanes make for a dangerous mix. Many accidents involve driving under the influence, aggressive driving, and not yielding a pedestrian the right of way. Aggressive drivers sometimes follow and taunt other drivers and may get out of the car to escalate a conflict further. With Serbia being a popular transit country, foreign motorists who have driven long hours from their home countries pose a risk on Serbian roads, as they may fall asleep at the wheel. Many Serbians believe that transiting foreigners driving under these conditions are responsible for most of the country’s the serious accidents. Police strictly enforce parking laws that require drivers to pay for parking via text messaging. Instructions for payment are clearly marked on parking signs within the designated parking areas. Serbia has also established new traffic legislation to conform to EU standards. If you are involved in a vehicular accident, it is common practice for the vehicles to remain at the point of impact until the police arrive.
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