The Principi group, also known as Belivuk-Miljković clan, founded under the name Janjičari, is[1] a hooligan group of FK Partizan that was accused of organized crime. From a local vandals and hooligans in JSD Partizan's basketball and football matches, it grew into one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the Balkan region. It was founded in Ritopek, a suburban neighbourhood of Belgrade, Serbia. The crimes Principi committed in the span of 5-8 years were extortion, intimidation, kidnapping, torture and mutilation, murder and drug sales. With allegiance to Kavač clan and contact with over 29 other Grobari subgroups, Principi is one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Europe.[2]
| Founded | 2013 (under the name Janjičari) 2018 (reformation; under the name Principi) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Aleksandar Stanković, Veljko Belivuk |
| Named after | Gavrilo Princip |
| Founding location | Ritopek, Serbia |
| Years active | 2013-2021 (disputed) |
| Membership | 80-100 (core members) 1,000+ ultras and supporters with allegiance |
| Leader(s) | Veljko Belivuk, Marko Miljković |
| Activities | Drug smuggling, extortion, murder, protection racketeering, football hooliganism, vandalism, interrogation, torture, kidnapping |
| Allies | Kavač clan |
| Rivals | Škaljari clan |
Formation
editThe Principi criminal group is linked to Veljko Belivuk and Darko Elez, the mastermind of the criminal underworld in Republika Srpska, and the leader of Elez gang. They "worked" together, celebrated the murders of rival mobsters and were on the verge of joining a clan that would rule a large territory of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Belivuk and Elez had the same boss, Radoje Zvicer, a Montenegrin criminal and a leader of Kavač clan.
Later in 2013, Aleksandar Stanković, known as Sale Mutavi, a leader of newly formed Partizan supporters group called "Janjičari", invited his collegue Belivuk, and his best man Marko Miljković to join his new crew. At the end of 2016, after the murder of Sale, Belivuk and Miljković took control over the crew, changing the name to Principi, after a Serbian historical figure Gavrilo Princip.[3][4]
Criminal activities
editBefore Elez and his right-hand man, Belivuk was arrested in Belgrade at the end of last year, on December 22.[5] He was accused in Bosnia of at least two murders. Siniša Miličević, nicknamed Tigar, who was brutally murdered in "sačekusa" on June 1, 2018, and according to the same recipe, Miloš Ostojić was killed on January 2, 2019. They were close to Đorđe Ždrala, known as Đoka. Elez's former godfather with whom he has been in conflict for years and they have tried to eliminate each other several times.[6]
In a major police operation, in which the DEA and the Serbian police participated, in addition to Belivuk, 18 other people were arrested, who are suspected of having committed several serious crimes, drug trafficking, extortion, blackmail, murder and mutilation of people. Belivuk was arrested at Rudnik, where he allegedly went to burn vehicles used in criminal acts. The police found a bunker and several other rooms that served Belivuk's criminal group at the Partizan Stadium. Drugs and weapons were found, including a sniper rifle. Police also found 15 people in the so-called "barracks".
Belivuk became known to the general public in 2016 after the attack on Boža Kumburović and Nebojša Petrović, members of the security of FK Partizan's director Miloš Vazura.[7] He was sentenced to one year of house arrest without electronic tagging. The media classified Belivuk in the so-called Kavač clan, which has been at war with the Škaljari clan for years.[8]
Murder of Oliver Ivanović
editThis group was accused together with the group around Zvonko Veselinović[9] of participating in the assassination of Oliver Ivanović. According to those claims, "Principi" were in charge of immediate execution, while logistics were provided by Milan Radoičić and everything was organized by Zvonko Veselinović.[10] Ljubomir Lainović[11] was the immediate executor, and Aleksandar Gligorijević was the courier.[12] Gligorijevic was later killed in an internal conflict between the Principi group members, and Belivuk was blamed for his murder. Lainović disappeared, and it is speculated that he was brutally tortured and killed by "skaljarac" (an opposing clan), two of whose high-ranking members he also killed.
Aftermath of Belivuk's arrest
editAfter the Belivuk's arrest, groups core members completely changed, with Serbian government claiming the group is officially "tarnished". Alot of football fanatical supporters and fellow football hooligans claim that the group still operates, but with new leadership. It is alleged that Miljković's cousin is running the clans operations, while Djordje Prelić is the new leader of the hooligan crew on the south stand since 2022.[13][14]
According to news letters and police investigations in Serbia, Belivuk and Miljković are in contact with over 29 Grobari supporters groups in Serbia and Serbian diaspora. The list of supporters group with allegiance to Principi ultras was leaked by Republika.rs newsletter:[15]
Words in special styles present: Bold: Leading groups on the South stand. Italic: A subgroups of larger leading groups
- 40+
- Južni Front
- South Guard
- Još Neko Kopa
- Anti Romi
- Alternativa
- Vandal Boys
- Shadows
- Grobari based in Padinjak, Novi Sad, Vršac, Republika Srpska, Trebinje, Vukovar, Nikšić, Bar, Kraljevo, Niš, Kragujevac, Kruševac and Kikinda
- Partizan Offender
- Obrenovac
- Commando
- Alo Požega
- Ludnica Kovin
In Serbian diaspora, Velja and Mare are running Grobari's offshoot organizations based in Amsterdam, Zurich, Paris, Vienna, Stockholm, Stuttgart, Vicenza and Ljubljana. Making Principi group officially a transnational organization in 2024.[16]
Formation of Omerta group
editDuring his time in jail, Belivuk, with help of his connections to the Belgrade's underground ultras, formed a new organization and a supporters group named Omerta, a code of silence in Italy notable for being used by criminals. It is considered as an enforcer crew of much larger Principi and its connections. It is alleged that Marko Miljković moved to Paris, France, and gained legal citizenship there. He is currently the leader of the group Omerta, which acts as a head organization for Grobari offshoot organization in Paris. Omerta also acts as the leading hooligan firm who controls all the finances, stands, operations of the Grobari supporters. It is estimated that through organized crime, and legal businesses, Omerta earns over €56,000,000 for the Principi group.[17]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ It is currently disputed for the groups existence. Some, like Serbian government claim that the group is tarnished, while a lot of Partizan's hooligans and football fanatics claim that the Principi are still active in some shape or form under the new leadership of Djordje Prelić and Miljković.
- ^ https://sveosrpskoj.com/glavno/pohapseno-17-pripadnika-lazno-navijackog-kriminalnog-klana-veljka-belivuka/
- ^ https://www.occrp.org/en/news/serbian-police-arrest-17-suspected-members-of-a-mafia-group
- ^ A, T. M. S.-A. Ž (2016-10-15). "SALE MUTAVI PRAĆEN CELO VEČE, PA IZREŠETAN Detalji ubistva vođe navijača Aleksandra Stankovića". Blic.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-10-24.
- ^ "Od čuvanja Vučića na inauguraciji do hapšenja za ubistva - Društvo - Dnevni list Danas" (in Serbian). 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ "TANJUG | Eлез под истрагом у предметима "Беливук" и "кавачки клан"". 2021-04-27. Archived from the original on 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ Jeremić, Ivana (2017-02-07). "Veljko Belivuk: Navijanje, obezbeđenje i nasilje". Centar za istraživačko novinarstvo Srbije (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ Alo.rs/Blic/I.L. "Otkrivena velika uloga Velje nevolje u kavačkom klanu". alo (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ "Zvonko Veselinović". Istinomer (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ "Milan Radoičić". Istinomer (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ Aleksić, Jovana (2022-03-29). "Veljin pucač i sin kriminalca: Ko je mladić kog optužuju za ubistvo Ivanovića". NOVA portal (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ KRIK.rs (2022-03-29). "Prijatelj ubijenog Belivukovog saradnika: U ubistvu Olivera Ivanovića učestvovale Veselinovićeva i Belivukova grupa". KRIK (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-09-19.
- ^ This information could be different in future, currently is debatable between the truth. Current stage of leadership in the group is still unknown.
- ^ Nova.rs (2022-08-12). "Tribine preuzima novi klan: Đorđe Prelić zamenio Belivuka na Partizanovom jugu". NOVA portal (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-09-25.
- ^ STEPANOVIĆ, Slađana (2021-07-05). "VELJA IZ ZATVORA VODI 29 GRUPA! Otkrivamo spisak navijača lojalnih uhapšenom Veljku Belivuku". Republika.rs | Srpski telegraf (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ Editors note: This was claimed by Republika.rs in 2021, with various sources claiming 29 groups and their subgroups pledged allegiance to Veljko Belivuk's Principi group and its core membership. If you find more sources or new information, please add them to this part and give cites.
- ^ Republika (2022-08-19). "VELJINA OMERTA HOĆE DA PREUZME JUŽNU TRIBINU: Belivuk iz zatvora organizovao novu navijačku grupu". Republika.rs | Srpski telegraf (in Serbian). Retrieved 2024-10-22.