Aleksandar Obradović (born March 2, 1979[1]) is a Serbian whistleblower who leaked documents which revealed corruption and fraud inside of a state-owned companyKrušik Valjevo. He was arrested on 18 September 2019 on his workplace for charges of espionage[2] and was transferred to central prison in Belgrade. His arrest triggered multiple protests across Serbia. On 14 October 2019 decision by Belgrade high court was made by which he was released from prison and sentenced to house arrest.[3] After multiple protests and public pressure Obradović was released from house arrest on 18 December 2019.[4]Investigation against him is still ongoing but there has been no indictment.[5] French branch of Amnesty International called Obradović "Serbian Snowden"[2] He is currently unemployed as his suspension from Krušik hasn't been lifted.[6]
Aleksandar Obradović was born on 2 March 1979 in Valjevo one year after his parents moved from Tutin. His father worked in factory Srbijanka and his mother got a job in Krušik Valjevo in 1980. Both of his parents finished universities. His mother graduated with the best grades, according to Obradović, his mother is a fantastic programmer and she gives him great support. His sister was born when he was five years old.[1]
Educationedit
He finished his first 8 years of education in elementary school „Žikica Jovanović Španac“ in Valjevo. He further pursued his education in economic high school and in Academic business school, in which he got his diploma.[7]
Basketball careeredit
At the age of 8 he developed a love for basketball, and begun training in basketball club Metalac. He became a captain of his generation which started making remarkable results on tournaments and he was always in top three scorers of the league. He became a professional player for Metalac but his displeasure with treatment of players by the club caused him to leave professional basketball at the young age of 20.[7]
Krušik arms scandaledit
Document revealingedit
In 2014 Mladen Petković, member of the ruling party, became a general manager of the factory. He often clashed with the staff of the factory and created what Obradović called "atmosphere of tension and fear". Since then Obradović began collecting examples of his mismanagement, once Obradović was promoted to a manager he discovered financial fraud.[8] In 2017 company GIM which was represented by father of government politician Nebojša Stefanović bought arms from Krušik by a privileged price which according to Obradović was “unreasonably low, bordering on loss”. After this deal GIM has grown from having an annual profit of few millions to over a billion.[9] Obradović leaked sale documents to investigative journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva who discovered that weapons exported by GIM ended up in hands of ISIS fighters in Yemen. She called for Serbia to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia because those weapons finished in hands of terrorists, she got no response.[10]
Arrestedit
At 3 PM on 18 September around 10 BIA agents came to the factory and arrested Obradović, after around 20 minutes he was handed over to officials from prosecution for high technology crime. They transferred him to a police station in Belgrade from where he was sent to central prison in Belgrade.[11]
Protests demanding release were held in Valjevo, Novi Sad and Belgrade with tens of thousands people attending.[12] Speakers of the protests called Obradović "hero of our time" and demanded that he is immediately released.[13] Just two days after Obradović was moved from central prison to house arrest he gave a speech on a protest in Belgrade by telephone. He said that he doesn't see himself as a hero but just as an ordinary man who didn't want to see company that employs thousands collapse because of corruption.[14]
Referencesedit
^ abRadovanović, Rade (2020-02-16). "Aleksandar Obradović: Olako sam se odrekao jurenja za snovima". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-12-14.
^ ab"Francuski ogranak AI: Uzbunjivač Obradović – Srpski Snouden". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). 2020-06-02. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
^Đurđević, Mila (21 October 2019). "Afera Krušik: 'Izmišljanje' ili prikrivanje". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 2020-12-14.
^Cvetković, Ljudmila; Komarčević, Dušan (18 December 2019). "Obradović za RSE po ukidanju pritvora: Nisam konačno slobodan". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 2020-12-15.
^. N1 Srbija (in Serbian (Latin script)). Archived from the original on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
^Radovanović, Zoran (2020-09-21). "Godinu dana od afere Krušik: Aleksandar Obradović i dalje talac režima". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-12-18.
^ abRadovanović, Rade (2020-02-16). "Aleksandar Obradović: Olako sam se odrekao jurenja za snovima". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-12-15.
^Neal, Will. "The Price of Blowing the Whistle". www.occrp.org. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
^"Serbian Minister's Father 'Mediated Saudi Weapon Sales'". Balkan Insight. 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
^. N1 Srbija (in Serbian (Latin script)). Archived from the original on 2020-02-25. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
^. Javno. Archived from the original on 2021-10-25. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
^Cvetković, Ljudmila (14 December 2019). "'1 od 5 miliona': Zatražena sloboda za Aleksandra Obradovića". Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbo-Croatian). Retrieved 2020-12-18.
^. N1 Srbija (in Serbian (Latin script)). Archived from the original on 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
^"Aleksandar Obradović: Nema povlačenja, nema ni korak nazad (Foto/Video)". Dnevni list Danas (in Serbian). 16 November 2019. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
April 17, 2024
aleksandar, obradović, whistleblower, aleksandar, obradović, born, march, 1979, serbian, whistleblower, leaked, documents, which, revealed, corruption, fraud, inside, state, owned, company, krušik, valjevo, arrested, september, 2019, workplace, charges, espion. Aleksandar Obradovic born March 2 1979 1 is a Serbian whistleblower who leaked documents which revealed corruption and fraud inside of a state owned company Krusik Valjevo He was arrested on 18 September 2019 on his workplace for charges of espionage 2 and was transferred to central prison in Belgrade His arrest triggered multiple protests across Serbia On 14 October 2019 decision by Belgrade high court was made by which he was released from prison and sentenced to house arrest 3 After multiple protests and public pressure Obradovic was released from house arrest on 18 December 2019 4 Investigation against him is still ongoing but there has been no indictment 5 French branch of Amnesty International called Obradovic Serbian Snowden 2 He is currently unemployed as his suspension from Krusik hasn t been lifted 6 Aleksandar ObradovicBorn 1979 03 02 March 2 1979 age 45 Valjevo SFR Yugoslavia Now Serbia NationalitySerbianEducationAcademic business school in ValjevoOccupationsProfessional basketball player for KK Metalac Valjevo until 1999 Manager in Krusik Valjevo until 18th September 2019 EmployerMladen Petkovic until 18th September 2019 Known forLeaking documents revealing corruption inside state owned company Krusik ValjevoParentMiljana Obradovic mother AwardsHonorary citizen of Sabac City of Sabac s award in category of development of democratic values and respect for human rights and freedoms The brave voice Contents 1 Personal life 1 1 Family 1 2 Education 1 3 Basketball career 2 Krusik arms scandal 2 1 Document revealing 2 2 Arrest 3 Protests against his arrest 4 ReferencesPersonal life editFamily edit Aleksandar Obradovic was born on 2 March 1979 in Valjevo one year after his parents moved from Tutin His father worked in factory Srbijanka and his mother got a job in Krusik Valjevo in 1980 Both of his parents finished universities His mother graduated with the best grades according to Obradovic his mother is a fantastic programmer and she gives him great support His sister was born when he was five years old 1 Education edit He finished his first 8 years of education in elementary school Zikica Jovanovic Spanac in Valjevo He further pursued his education in economic high school and in Academic business school in which he got his diploma 7 Basketball career edit At the age of 8 he developed a love for basketball and begun training in basketball club Metalac He became a captain of his generation which started making remarkable results on tournaments and he was always in top three scorers of the league He became a professional player for Metalac but his displeasure with treatment of players by the club caused him to leave professional basketball at the young age of 20 7 Krusik arms scandal editDocument revealing edit In 2014 Mladen Petkovic member of the ruling party became a general manager of the factory He often clashed with the staff of the factory and created what Obradovic called atmosphere of tension and fear Since then Obradovic began collecting examples of his mismanagement once Obradovic was promoted to a manager he discovered financial fraud 8 In 2017 company GIM which was represented by father of government politician Nebojsa Stefanovic bought arms from Krusik by a privileged price which according to Obradovic was unreasonably low bordering on loss After this deal GIM has grown from having an annual profit of few millions to over a billion 9 Obradovic leaked sale documents to investigative journalist Dilyana Gaytandzhieva who discovered that weapons exported by GIM ended up in hands of ISIS fighters in Yemen She called for Serbia to end arms sales to Saudi Arabia because those weapons finished in hands of terrorists she got no response 10 Arrest edit At 3 PM on 18 September around 10 BIA agents came to the factory and arrested Obradovic after around 20 minutes he was handed over to officials from prosecution for high technology crime They transferred him to a police station in Belgrade from where he was sent to central prison in Belgrade 11 Protests against his arrest editSee also 2018 2020 Serbian protest Protests demanding release were held in Valjevo Novi Sad and Belgrade with tens of thousands people attending 12 Speakers of the protests called Obradovic hero of our time and demanded that he is immediately released 13 Just two days after Obradovic was moved from central prison to house arrest he gave a speech on a protest in Belgrade by telephone He said that he doesn t see himself as a hero but just as an ordinary man who didn t want to see company that employs thousands collapse because of corruption 14 References edit a b Radovanovic Rade 2020 02 16 Aleksandar Obradovic Olako sam se odrekao jurenja za snovima Dnevni list Danas in Serbian Retrieved 2020 12 14 a b Francuski ogranak AI Uzbunjivac Obradovic Srpski Snouden Dnevni list Danas in Serbian 2020 06 02 Retrieved 2020 12 15 Đurđevic Mila 21 October 2019 Afera Krusik Izmisljanje ili prikrivanje Radio Slobodna Evropa in Serbo Croatian Retrieved 2020 12 14 Cvetkovic Ljudmila Komarcevic Dusan 18 December 2019 Obradovic za RSE po ukidanju pritvora Nisam konacno slobodan Radio Slobodna Evropa in Serbo Croatian Retrieved 2020 12 15 Pola godine nakon hapsenja uzbunjivac Obradovic bez optuznice i pod suspenzijom N1 Srbija in Serbian Latin script Archived from the original on 2020 10 30 Retrieved 2020 12 15 Radovanovic Zoran 2020 09 21 Godinu dana od afere Krusik Aleksandar Obradovic i dalje talac rezima Dnevni list Danas in Serbian Retrieved 2020 12 18 a b Radovanovic Rade 2020 02 16 Aleksandar Obradovic Olako sam se odrekao jurenja za snovima Dnevni list Danas in Serbian Retrieved 2020 12 15 Neal Will The Price of Blowing the Whistle www occrp org Retrieved 2020 12 17 Serbian Minister s Father Mediated Saudi Weapon Sales Balkan Insight 2018 11 22 Retrieved 2020 12 17 Arms Watch journalist says Serbia had to stop arms exports to Saudi Arabia N1 Srbija in Serbian Latin script Archived from the original on 2020 02 25 Retrieved 2020 12 17 Uzbunjivac Obradovic za BIRN Zeleo sam da se sazna istina o Krusiku Javno Archived from the original on 2021 10 25 Retrieved 2020 12 17 Cvetkovic Ljudmila 14 December 2019 1 od 5 miliona Zatrazena sloboda za Aleksandra Obradovica Radio Slobodna Evropa in Serbo Croatian Retrieved 2020 12 18 Protest SzS u Novom Sadu zbog Aleksandra Obradovica Nemaju nijedan dokaz N1 Srbija in Serbian Latin script Archived from the original on 2020 02 03 Retrieved 2020 12 18 Aleksandar Obradovic Nema povlacenja nema ni korak nazad Foto Video Dnevni list Danas in Serbian 16 November 2019 Retrieved 2020 12 18 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aleksandar Obradovic whistleblower amp oldid 1218189259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
