Novica Antić arrested over suspected military coup claims

Serbian authorities have arrested Novica Antić, former president of the Military Union of Serbia, in Kragujevac. The arrest was ordered by the Special Department for High-Tech Crime of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade. Antić is suspected of inciting panic and disorder through posts on the social media platform X, where he suggested that Serbian military units were conducting nighttime combat training in populated areas as a precursor to a coup.

The Ministry of Defense clarified that the military activity observed was a planned inspection of operational capabilities by the Defense Inspectorate at the Pasuljanske livade training ground, a procedure that had been scheduled a year in advance.

Separately, police have launched a search for Ljubomir Stefanović, owner of the portal Slavija Info, who is reported to be in hiding. Stefanović is accused of inciting panic after posting a video on X claiming that political figures would use violence on election day. The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office stated that Stefanović failed to be found at his registered address following the investigation into his social media activity.