Police director seeks dismissal of Gendarmerie commander

BELGRADE Police Director Milorad Veljovic on Tuesday called a press conference and announced that he had requested the sacking of Bratislav Dikic. Dinkic is the commander of the Serbian police (MUP) Gendarmerie unit. Police director seeks dismissal of Gendarmerie commander Veljovic told reporters in Belgrade today that his decision came because of a double murder - a case in which a Gendarmerie member is a suspect. "I have requested (Dikic's) dismissal because of the monstrous murder. The perpetrator is not a representative of the MUP, or Gendarmerie, but an outcast in the state of Serbia," Veljovic was quoted as saying, and adding that he "had no interest in whether somebody liked or disliked" his request. He also qualified his news conference as "the hardest he ever held in his life." Veljovic said he expected that PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic would "fully support" his request. Bratislav Dikic, meanwhile, told the Belgrade-based daily Danas that he was "in the field, with the men," and was not informed about his sacking, or the reasons for it. Veljovic's request sent to Dacic reportedly said that Dikic should be given a new position "in line with his education." Dikic's dismissal has been the subject of speculation on several previous occasions, including last week when Ivica Dacic told B92 that this was not discussed during the ongoing cabinet reshuffle talks he has had with Aleksandar Vucic, and that "the procedure in such cases in known." Dikic joined the police more than 20 years ago and has served as the Gendarmerie commander since June 2009. Bratislav Dikic (file) B92 RTS, Danas

Police director seeks dismissal of Gendarmerie commander

Veljović told reporters in Belgrade today that his decision came because of a double murder - a case in which a Gendarmerie member is a suspect.

"I have requested (Dikić's) dismissal because of the monstrous murder. The perpetrator is not a representative of the MUP, or Gendarmerie, but an outcast in the state of Serbia," Veljović was quoted as saying, and adding that he "had no interest in whether somebody liked or disliked" his request.

He also qualified his news conference as "the hardest he ever held in his life." Veljović said he expected that PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dačić would "fully support" his request.

Bratislav Dikić, meanwhile, told the Belgrade-based daily Danas that he was "in the field, with the men," and was not informed about his sacking, or the reasons for it.

Veljović's request sent to Dačić reportedly said that Dikić should be given a new position "in line with his education."

Dikić's dismissal has been the subject of speculation on several previous occasions, including last week when Ivica Dačić told B92 that this was not discussed during the ongoing cabinet reshuffle talks he has had with Aleksandar Vučić, and that "the procedure in such cases in known."

Dikić joined the police more than 20 years ago and has served as the Gendarmerie commander since June 2009.