Rade Basta arrested in Belgrade on suspicion of harming Beogradske elektrane

Former Serbian economy minister Rade Basta was arrested on the morning of 11 November 2026 after an order from the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, authorities said. He is suspected of causing damage to the public company Beogradske elektrane in the amount of tens of millions of dinars.

According to media reports, some outlets say he was detained at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport before leaving the country, while official information indicates that the arrest was carried out early in the morning by members of the Service for the Fight Against Corruption. Details about any intended destination or flight have not been disclosed and there has been no official confirmation that he attempted to leave Serbia.

Police searches and additional detentions

The arrest is part of a wider police operation that included searches of residential and business premises. Unofficial reports say several other people connected with the case have been detained; their number, identities and roles have not been made public.

Prosecutors' suspicions concern the period when Basta led Beogradske elektrane, the company responsible for central heating in Belgrade. He is alleged to have approved unjustified donations to smaller football and basketball clubs and to an equestrian club, and some reports say companies were among the recipients. The exact amount of the alleged damage, the names of recipients, individual payments and the precise period of the disputed donations have not been released.

Basta was appointed acting director of Beogradske elektrane in September 2018 and was replaced by Vanja Vukić in December 2022. In October 2022 he became minister of economy as a member of Jedinstvena Srbija and was dismissed on 11 July 2023 after about eight and a half months in office.

His dismissal followed public demands that the Serbian government "urgently declare sanctions on the Russian Federation due to the aggression against Ukraine." Because of those positions, Jedinstvena Srbija sought his removal from party and public posts, after which Basta formed the movement "Evropski put." There is no information that the earlier political disagreements are connected to the current investigation.

It has not been disclosed whether Basta has been questioned, whether detention was set or whether pretrial custody has been requested, and no statement has been published by him or his defence. The suspicions are under investigation and his criminal responsibility has not been established.

Photo: press material from the event