February 15, 2017
Speaking at an interview for the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK), Marija Mali accused her ex-husband, Siniša Mali, the current mayor of Belgrade and one of the closest associates of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić, of participating in financial fraud, tax evasion and money laundering.
She claimed that Mayor Mali told her that he organised last year’s illegal demolition of buildings in Belgrade‘s Savamala district, on the site earmarked for construction of the controversial “Belgrade Waterfront” complex, which the Serbian government allocated to a private investor from the United Arab Emirates without a tendering process.
Those who ordered this demolition, which was carried out by people wearing ski masks, are still unknown to the public, though the incident has prompted the staging of several mass demonstrations in Belgrade.
This news item “exploded” on social networks, but has not been reported by almost any national media outlets.
With the exception of TV N1, which only broadcasts via the internet and cable TV systems, and low-circulating daily newspaper Danas, no other media companies with national coverage have reported on Marija Mali’s testimony.
Later, all media reported, without further explanation, the statement of Prime Minister Vučić, who announced that the public will receive a comprehensive answer with regard to this case.
