Estela Radonjić Živkov, a conservator with the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, is facing criminal proceedings initiated by the Belgrade Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office. This legal action comes just before her scheduled testimony in a high-profile corruption case against Serbia’s Minister of Culture, Nikola Selaković. The case concerns the alleged illegal revocation of cultural heritage status for the General Staff complex, a site of significant cultural and historical value.

The timing of the proceedings against Radonjić Živkov has raised concerns among professional associations and civil society organizations, who view it as an attempt to discredit her and intimidate witnesses. These groups, including the Society of Conservators of Serbia, Europa Nostra Serbia, the National Committee of ICOMOS Serbia, Do.Co.Mo.Mo Serbia, and the Association of Architects of Serbia, have issued a statement condemning the proceedings as a form of pressure on a key witness. They argue that such actions threaten the freedom of professionals to present their findings without fear of repercussions.

The controversy centers on the General Staff complex, designed by architect Dobrović, which holds exceptional cultural and historical significance. Despite its protected status, the Serbian government decided on November 14, 2024, to revoke its cultural heritage designation, a move that has been legally contested due to the absence of the required procedural steps and expert recommendations. The Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against Minister Selaković and other officials on December 15, 2025, for suspected illegalities in the revocation process.

Professional associations emphasize that the criminal proceedings against Radonjić Živkov, initiated by the Ministry of Culture—a body implicated in the ongoing legal case—could be seen as institutional pressure intended to intimidate and discredit not only her but all experts opposing the removal of protection from the General Staff complex. They stress that this incident is not an isolated issue but part of a broader pattern that endangers the professional integrity and independence of experts in the cultural sector.

The associations have called for lawful, impartial, and transparent actions from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, relevant prosecutors, and other judicial and state bodies. They demand that these entities refrain from any actions that could constitute pressure on witnesses or compromise their ability to present their professional knowledge freely in court.

The professional community, alongside academic institutions, civil organizations, media, and citizens, is urged to closely monitor the case and publicly support the rights of experts to act and speak according to their knowledge, the law, and professional conscience. The statement concludes with a resolute message: “Pressure on one of us is pressure on all of us. We do not consent to such pressures! The responsibility for defending the General Staff is shared, and we will not abandon it.”

The broader implications of this situation touch on concerns about judicial independence in Serbia and the potential chilling effect on professionals who might otherwise be willing to testify in significant legal cases. The actions against Radonjić Živkov are seen as part of a troubling pattern of pressure on civil society, raising questions about the integrity of the judicial process and the safety of experts in the field.