RHMZ Director Jugoslav Nikolić Arrested on Money-Laundering Suspicion
Belgrade anti-corruption prosecutors say the weather service chief and two others laundered at least €650,000 through property in Serbia and Montenegro.
Jugoslav Nikolić, director of Serbia’s Republic Hydrometeorological Service (RHMZ), was arrested on Tuesday, 3 November, together with two other people on suspicion of money laundering, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade said. Its Special Department for Combating Corruption alleges that the three moved and converted assets worth at least €650,000, knowing they came from crime, between November 2019 and November 2024.
What prosecutors allege
The prosecution identified the suspects by initials: J.N., 71, and two others, O.N., 71, and Đ.N., 45. It says Nikolić deposited 41,878,195 dinars, €43,150 and 44,760 Swiss francs in cash into accounts at one bank, sums not covered by his lawful income, and used the money to buy property in Belgrade, Užice and Montenegro.
O.N. is suspected of moving at least €227,540 between June 2021 and 2023 to buy apartments, a garage space and business premises in Čačak and Montenegro, and Đ.N. of transferring at least 1.5 million dinars in June 2021 for an apartment in Montenegro. In late November 2024, according to the prosecution, a notarised lifetime-transfer agreement passed several apartments, garages, land parcels and business premises to Đ.N.
Nikolić is additionally suspected of breaching the Law on Prevention of Corruption by failing to report significant changes in his assets to the Anti-Corruption Agency and by giving false information. All three can be held for up to 48 hours before questioning. These are allegations, not findings of a court, and the suspects’ lawyers had not commented publicly.
Who is Jugoslav Nikolić
According to N1, Nikolić has led the RHMZ since 2014, first as acting director and then by government appointment. He holds a doctorate in meteorology from the University of Belgrade and represents Serbia at the World Meteorological Organization and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. His latest asset declaration, filed in March 2025, listed a monthly income of 370,000 dinars, a share in a 66-square-metre apartment, a garage space and two older cars.
Sources
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