Serbian Prosecutor Investigating Belgrade Trump Tower Hacked with Pegasus Spyware

Key points

• Rade Bajić, a prosecutor at Serbia's Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, was infected with Pegasus spyware after raising concerns about political interference in the Belgrade Trump Tower project.
• The infection was detected via an Apple Threat Notification iMessage received on August 13, as part of a joint investigation by Toronto University's Citizen Lab and the Serbian SHARE Foundation.
• The surveillance targets have expanded from journalists to student activists, politicians, and now judicial representatives, including Vladan Đokić, the rector of the University of Belgrade.
• The project involves redeveloping the former Yugoslav military headquarters into a luxury skyscraper, a move that has faced allegations of irregularities regarding the removal of the site's protected heritage status.
• Researchers noted that the spyware scandal is fueled by perceived state impunity and inaction, even when criminal complaints have been filed against those responsible for surveillance.

Background

This development follows recent revelations that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić personally pressured officials to strip protected status from the historic site to facilitate a $500 million Trump-branded tower for Jared Kushner. While Vučić remains uncharged as he campaigns for prime minister in October, senior officials have been indicted. The spyware incident also aligns with a broader trend of sophisticated surveillance techniques, such as the 'AdFection' zero-click attacks confirmed by Citizen Lab in late 2025 and early 2026, which have raised global concerns about digital privacy and state-sponsored repression.

Why it matters

The targeting of a prosecutor investigating high-profile corruption signals a deepening crackdown on dissent and judicial independence in Serbia. It underscores how advanced spyware is being used to silence critics of government-linked business ventures, potentially undermining the rule of law and democratic processes ahead of the October 25 parliamentary elections.

What to watch

Investigations are ongoing to identify the specific actors responsible for deploying Pegasus against Bajić and other targets. The Serbian government faces increasing pressure to address the surveillance scandal and ensure accountability, while the broader debate over the legality and ethics of the Belgrade Trump Tower project continues amid upcoming elections.