Serbian police conducted raids on the offices of two Belgrade-based organizations working in the field of democracy as part of an investigation into potential misuse of funds provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This was reported by senior state prosecutor Nenad Stefanović, according to Reuters.
These actions follow the freezing of USAID funding for 90 days in January 2025 due to a decision by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is also seeking to reduce the agency’s activities. Stefanović explained that after statements from Trump, Secretary of State Mark Rubio, billionaire Elon Musk, and other high-ranking U.S. officials about freezing USAID funds, Serbian prosecutors contacted the U.S. for additional information.
According to the prosecutor, the CRTA sociological company and several oversight organizations, such as “Public Initiatives,” “Trag,” and “Center for Politics,” are under investigation for allegations of “misuse of USAID funds.” Serbia’s Special Anti-Corruption Department also reached out to the U.S. Department of Justice for information regarding possible money laundering and improper spending of U.S. taxpayer funds in Serbia.
Stefanović added that the prosecutor’s office ordered the confiscation of all documents related to USAID in four organizations and the interrogation of those responsible for the spending of the funds.
Since 2001, USAID has invested nearly one billion dollars in Serbia to support economic growth, strengthen the rule of law, and improve governance, including assistance to government bodies and parliament, as well as support for human rights organizations.
On February 7, Trump stated that corruption in USAID had reached an “unprecedented level” and suggested the agency be dissolved. On the same day, a U.S. judge temporarily allowed about 2,700 agency employees to return to work after the Trump administration had placed them on leave, halting part of the plans to dissolve the agency.
