Serbia, a refuge for fugitives from other countries’ justice systems. Sebastian Ghiță, among the names mentioned by the Serbian press

Under Aleksandar Vučić’s regime, Serbia has become a refuge for people wanted or convicted in neighboring countries, particularly in the Balkans. Following the change of power in Belgrade and the rise of the Student List, analysts are wondering whether the new administration will change its extradition policy.

Among those in Serbia is Romanian businessman Sebastian Ghiță, who fled Romania in December 2016. Serbian authorities rejected the extradition request, citing the risk of political persecution, and Ghiță was granted asylum. Meanwhile, he has been acquitted in several cases, and the pretrial arrest warrants have been revoked.

Also in Serbia is Bulgarian businessman Tsvetan Vasilev, accused of involvement in the collapse of Corporate Commercial Bank, as well as former Bosnian military personnel convicted or wanted for war crimes. Milan Radoičić, accused of the attack in Banjska, is wanted by Kosovo, but Serbia does not recognize Pristina’s jurisdiction.

The list is completed by Svetozar Marović, convicted in Montenegro of corruption, and Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand’s former prime minister, whom Belgrade granted citizenship in 2019. Extradition refusals are frequently based on citizenship, legal restrictions, or the lack of judicial agreements.