Just before the parliamentary elections, researchers found traces of Israeli spyware, Pegasus, on the phones of Vladan Đokić, the rector of the University of Belgrade, and Rade Bajić, an associate of the State Prosecutor’s Office. Citizen Lab, in collaboration with the Serbian NGO SHARE Foundation, conducted the analysis identifying the spyware.
Đokić’s phone was infected via a “zero-click attack,” a sophisticated hacking method that requires no user interaction. He is known for supporting student anti-government protests and advocating for university autonomy.
Bajić, a senior prosecutor, is involved in the “General Staff” case, which investigates state officials accused of abusing their power over a cultural monument in Belgrade by allowing a luxury hotel project that was later abandoned amid ongoing investigations.
In August 2026, Bajić received a security notice from Apple, indicating he was targeted by spyware. This incident is part of a pattern of surveillance targeting individuals who oppose the current Serbian government of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić. The NSO Group, which produces Pegasus, says it sells its software only to government bodies.
On 2 September, the SHARE Foundation reported that at least 14 people in Serbia were targeted by advanced spyware in early 2026, including students, activists, and opposition councillors. These revelations complicate Serbia’s political landscape ahead of Sunday’s elections, in which the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) faces a strong opposition, including the Student List formed from recent protests.
