Serbian authorities arrested Marko Kricak, the 42-year-old head of the country's criminal police directorate, and Bosko Sekulovic, the police commander in charge of fighting organised crime, on Sunday. Belgrade’s chief prosecutor, Nenad Stefanovic, stated that both men are suspected of abusing their offices and failing to uphold their duties, allegedly causing prejudice and serious harm to the rights of Belgrade’s former police chief, Veselin Milic.

The allegations stem from an investigation into the murder of a suspected criminal underworld figure in a Belgrade restaurant in May. Milic, who was arrested days after the murder for alleged complicity in the crime, initiated legal action while in custody. He accused Kricak and Sekulovic of providing prosecutors with incomplete and false evidence concerning the case.

Kricak is widely viewed as a loyalist to the country's recently defeated President, Aleksandar Vucic. Student groups had previously accused Kricak of "brutality" in the police response to demonstrations that contributed to the downfall of Vucic’s ruling right-wing party. These groups had also demanded his removal, along with that of several other police and intelligence chiefs, as part of broader reform efforts.

Despite these demands and Kricak's perceived political ties, the prosecutor’s office explicitly denied any connection between the arrests and the recent legislative elections. "This arrest has no link with… the result of the legislative elections," Stefanovic told journalists, referring to the snap elections held a week prior.

The Student List, a movement supported by students, secured a significant victory in the October 25 snap elections. These elections, called by Vucic after nearly two years of sustained protests, marked the end of 14 years of rule by his Serbian Progressive Party. The arrests occur against a backdrop of political transition following this electoral outcome.

The arrests also coincide with the second anniversary of the Novi Sad railway station disaster. On Sunday, thousands gathered in Novi Sad to commemorate the event where a concrete canopy collapsed at the city’s newly renovated railway station, resulting in 16 fatalities. Participants observed a minute of silence for each victim, while students marched carrying wreaths.

Relatives of the victims expressed their grief and a desire for justice. "It’s hard to go back to the place where it all happened," said Dijana Hrka, whose 27-year-old son was among those killed, expressing hope that justice would be served. Student representatives described the event as more than a "tragedy," suggesting that the term inadequately captures the circumstances, implying a deeper responsibility.

While the prosecutor's office has provided a specific reason for the arrests related to alleged misconduct in the investigation of a murder, the broader context of political change and student-led demands for reform raises questions about the full scope of the situation. The timing of the arrests, so close to the election results and the anniversary of a national tragedy, adds layers of complexity to the public understanding of these events.