Security Intelligence Agency

Security Intelligence Agency
Безбедносно-информативна агенција (БИА)
Bezbednosno-informativna agencija (BIA)
Emblem of the BIA
Agency overview
Formed 1 August 2002
Preceding agency
Jurisdiction Serbia
Headquarters Kraljice Ane Street, Belgrade, Serbia
Employees 1,953 (2011)[1]
Annual budget $53.53 million (2018, planned)[2]
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Website www.bia.gov.rs

The Security Intelligence Agency (Serbian: Безбедносно-информативна агенција / Bezbednosno-informativna agencija; abbr. BIA) is a national intelligence agency of Serbia. The agency is responsible for collecting, reporting and disseminating intelligence, and conducting counter-intelligence in the interest of Serbia's national security.[3]

History

The Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) was formed on 1 August 2002 as the successor of State Security Service (SDB), which existed from 1991 to 2002.[4]

2017–present

In May 2017, Bratislav Gašić, close associate of elected President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, was appointed as the head of the Security Intelligence Agency.[5] Following his appointment, Gašić suspended his party activities.[6]

In August 2017, an amendments to the Law on the Security and Information Agency, which strengthen the authorities of the agency's director, have arrived in the Serbian Parliament for adoption.[7] This move was condemned by several officials including the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance Rodoljub Šabić and former co-Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia Božo Prelević.[8] They have stated that these amendments are unconstitutional and thus way creating a platform for "party's intelligence agency" (Serbian Progressive Party), aimed at the opposition and "domestic traitors" who disagree with the ruling regime.[8][9]

Directors

  • Andreja Savić (1 August 2002 – 24 January 2003) (acting)
  • Miša Milićević (25 January 2003 – 6 March 2004)
  • Rade Bulatović (6 March 2004 – 17 July 2008)
  • Saša Vukadinović (17 July 2008 – 3 August 2012)
  • Nebojša Rodić (3 August 2012 – 3 September 2013)
  • Dragan Marković (3 September 2013 – 25 October 2013) (acting)
  • Aleksandar Đorđević (25 October 2013 – 23 May 2017)
  • Bratislav Gašić (23 May 2017 – present)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "U BIA radi oko 2.000 bezbednjaka". b92.net (in Serbian). 14 April 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "ZAKON O BUDŽETU REPUBLIKE SRBIJE ZA 2018. GODINU". paragraf.rs (in Serbian). Službeni glasnik RS. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  3. ↑ "About Agency / Security Information Agency". www.bia.gov.rs.
  4. ↑ "Period between 1945 and 2002 / History / Security Information Agency". www.bia.gov.rs.
  5. ↑ Zivanovic, Maja (22 May 2017). "Sacked Minister To Head Serbian Security Agency". balkaninsight.com. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  6. ↑ "Gašić zamrznuo stranačke funkcije zbog direktorskog mesta u BIA". Blic.rs (in Serbian). 23 May 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  7. ↑ "Zakon koji jača ovlašćenja direktora BIA stigao u Skupštinu". n1info.com (in Serbian). Tanjug. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Šabić: Izmene Zakona o BIA u suprotnosti sa Ustavom". n1info.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  9. ↑ Nikolić, Maja (31 August 2017). "Prelević o BIA: Fokus će biti na unutrašnjem neprijatelju". n1info.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 3 September 2017.
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