Government Garage Case: Court Detains Nine, Including SAJ Commander Žmirić

The First Basic Court in Belgrade on Thursday, 5 November, ordered detention of up to 30 days for nine current and former police officers suspected of abusing and torturing people held in the garage of the Serbian government building in August 2025. Among them is Igor Žmirić, commander of the police Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), RTS and 021.rs report. The suspects have not been charged and are presumed innocent.

What the suspects are accused of

According to the Interior Ministry, the alleged offences took place on the night of 14–15 August 2025 in the government garage on Nemanjina Street. Prosecutors suspect that force and threats were used against several people detained after a protest, causing severe pain and suffering, in order to extract information, intimidate them and punish them unlawfully. RTS reports that the arrest order relates to the alleged abuse of student Nikolina Sinđelić and her colleagues.

Who is in custody

The ministry identified eight officers by initials and year of birth, plus a ninth man who was a police officer at the time. 021.rs reports that the suspects are current and former members of the Unit for the Security of Certain Persons and Facilities (JZO),. The court said detention was needed to prevent pressure on witnesses and because the offence had caused public unrest.

Why it matters

The garage case is one of the most serious allegations of police abuse linked to the 2025 protests. The arrests are part of a wider series of cases against senior police officers since the October election. No statements from the suspects or their lawyers had been published by Friday morning; the request for detention came from the First Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade.