Nikolić accuses Democrats of smear campaign

Opposition SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic late on Tuesday accused the ruling Democrats (DS) of having launched a smear campaign against his party. Nikolic said that the Democrats used Belgrade daily Blic and controversial Montenegrin businessman Ratko Knezevic for that purpose. Nikolic accuses Democrats of smear campaign In a series of recent interviews where he spoke about cigarette smuggling and the so-called tobacco cartel, Knezevic most often mentioned then Radicals (SRS), now Serb Progressives (SNS), Nikolic and his deputy Aleksandar Vucic. But Nikolic once again denied any connection with the mafia. "I have one message for Boris Tadic," he said, referring to the Serbian president and DS leader. "If he intends to attack me in this way, let him speak himself. There's no need to set the Serb Radical Party against me." "If the Democratic Party has something on me, if there is any proof against me – they have the prosecution, police and courts – let there be a procedure against me, but not in their newspapers, and not in parliament via the SRS. Let Boris Tadic lead the way, to whom the Serb Progressive Party is a direct threat and whom it is bringing down from power," Nikolic was quoted as saying. The three parties, however, agree that there should be an official probe into the allegations about politicians' ties with mafia. "The SRS is calling on relevant state organs to ascertain what of all this is true. If everything is true, then it means that the security of this whole state is at issue. It means that organized crime is stronger than the state of Serbia," said Aleksandar Martinovic of the Serb Radicals. "At this point there really is suspicion that there's a very strong connection between the top of the organized crime both in Serbia and in Montenegro with some politicians," he added. But DS whip in parliament Nada Kolundzija pointed out this was "not a job for political parties". "This is a job for the state institutions. In that sense, the Democratic Party will support the work of those institutions, so that they can adequately fight all occurrences of crime and illegal activities," she stated. However, no probe has been launched yet concerning Knezevic's allegations, although the once close ally of Montenegrin PM Milo Djukanovic made numerous disturbing accusations. Knezevic claims that in 2007, Nikolic and Vucic met with Djukanovic and Stako Subotic, aka Cane, in the Ritz Hotel in Paris, in order to help Nikolic – then SRS number two – to take over the party with the tobacco money. Knezevic also ties the Democrats, "but not President Boris Tadic", to the cartel. He claims that in a bid to put an end to investigations that could compromise its members the Tobacco Mafia "reminded the DS of a EUR 10mn loan that Subotic gave to the party", but adds that Tadic "does not feel responsible for interest to that loan". Subotic has been indicted by Serbian Organized Crime Prosecution for his in involvement in cigarette smuggling activities during the 1990's.

Nikolić accuses Democrats of smear campaign

In a series of recent interviews where he spoke about cigarette smuggling and the so-called tobacco cartel, Knežević most often mentioned then Radicals (SRS), now Serb Progressives (SNS), Nikolić and his deputy Aleksandar Vučić.

But Nikolić once again denied any connection with the mafia.

"I have one message for Boris Tadić," he said, referring to the Serbian president and DS leader. "If he intends to attack me in this way, let him speak himself. There's no need to set the Serb Radical Party against me."

"If the Democratic Party has something on me, if there is any proof against me – they have the prosecution, police and courts – let there be a procedure against me, but not in their newspapers, and not in parliament via the SRS. Let Boris Tadić lead the way, to whom the Serb Progressive Party is a direct threat and whom it is bringing down from power," Nikolić was quoted as saying.

The three parties, however, agree that there should be an official probe into the allegations about politicians' ties with mafia.

"The SRS is calling on relevant state organs to ascertain what of all this is true. If everything is true, then it means that the security of this whole state is at issue. It means that organized crime is stronger than the state of Serbia," said Aleksandar Martinović of the Serb Radicals.

"At this point there really is suspicion that there's a very strong connection between the top of the organized crime both in Serbia and in Montenegro with some politicians," he added.

But DS whip in parliament Nada Kolundžija pointed out this was "not a job for political parties".

"This is a job for the state institutions. In that sense, the Democratic Party will support the work of those institutions, so that they can adequately fight all occurrences of crime and illegal activities," she stated.

However, no probe has been launched yet concerning Knežević's allegations, although the once close ally of Montenegrin PM Milo Đukanović made numerous disturbing accusations.

Knežević claims that in 2007, Nikolić and Vučić met with Đukanović and Stako Subotić, aka Cane, in the Ritz Hotel in Paris, in order to help Nikolić – then SRS number two – to take over the party with the tobacco money.

Knežević also ties the Democrats, "but not President Boris Tadić", to the cartel.

He claims that in a bid to put an end to investigations that could compromise its members the Tobacco Mafia "reminded the DS of a EUR 10mn loan that Subotić gave to the party", but adds that Tadić "does not feel responsible for interest to that loan".

Subotić has been indicted by Serbian Organized Crime Prosecution for his in involvement in cigarette smuggling activities during the 1990's.