# Dragana Sotirovski and the Niš Emergency Situations Headquarters

Category: Money and deals  
Period: from Mar 2022  
Outcome: Indictment filed (as of 22 Oct 2026)  

As commander of the city's Emergency Management Headquarters, Dragana Sotirovski, mayor of Niš and a member of the SNS Presidency, signed orders under which the firms „Vodomonteri“ and „Sim puk gradnja“ were awarded water and sewerage contracts without public procurement, even though, according to the State Audit Institution, the works were not emergencies; she claimed they were. She is charged with causing the city 250 million dinars in damage, which she disputes, and her trial began on 30 September 2026. The day before the trial, Vučić pardoned fifteen former members of the Headquarters, releasing them from criminal prosecution, so their guilt has not been established.

## Contracts without public procurement

In its report on the 2023 budget of Niš, published in September 2024, the State Audit Institution found that the firms "Vodomonteri" from Lalinac and "Sim puk gradnja" from Malošište had been awarded substantial water supply and sewerage contracts through the city's Emergency Situations Headquarters without public procurement, even though the works were not emergencies.

The orders were signed by Mayor Dragana Sotirovski, as commander of the Headquarters. She is a member of the SNS Presidency and maintained that the circumstances had been emergencies.

## Arrests of the mayor and the Headquarters

The Interior Ministry arrested Sotirovski on 21 February 2025, along with the responsible officers of two companies, on suspicion that the companies had obtained 460 million dinars at the city's expense by charging prices well above market rates. Three days later 13 members of the Headquarters were arrested, followed on 27 February by former city councillor Nenad Stanković. They are suspected of voting for states of emergency and for hiring the companies, which invoiced the city 843 million dinars. According to the prosecution, the members admitted the facts set out in the criminal complaint and were released.

In May 2025 the Interior Ministry also filed a criminal complaint against Sotirovski over consultancy services that were paid for from the budget but never delivered. The complaint also covers a „Swarovski“ watch bought as a hospitality expense, which, according to the ministry, she kept.

## Convictions and indictment

The owners of both companies and the go-between linking the mayor and „Vodomonter“ were convicted under plea agreements and sentenced to house arrest and to repay about 85.3 million dinars.

Sotirovski was indicted in October 2025 on charges that she caused the city 250 million dinars in damage and obtained over 112 million for herself. The indictment has been final since February 2026, and her detention was lifted after ten months. The trial began on 30 September 2026; at the preparatory hearing on 22 October she contested the indictment, and the main hearing is scheduled for December.

## Pardoned Headquarters members

In February 2026 the prosecution filed an indictment motion against fifteen former members of the Headquarters, but Aleksandar Vučić released them from criminal prosecution by a decision of 27 September 2026, a day before their trial was due to begin, so their guilt was never established. Sotirovski was not pardoned.

## Participants

- [Dragana Sotirovski](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/dragana-sotirovski): According to the indictment, as commander of the Headquarters she hired two companies at inflated prices without a tender and obtained over 112 million dinars for herself (responsible)
- [Srđan Mitrović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/srdjan-mitrovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Emergency Headquarters he voted for decisions that gave companies contracts without a tender; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Vladislava Ivković](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/vladislava-ivkovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters she voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender; she was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Ivan Mihajlović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/ivan-mihajlovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters he voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and he admitted the factual allegations; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Nenad Stanković](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/nenad-stankovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Emergency Headquarters he voted for decisions that gave companies contracts without a tender; the court rejected his plea agreement (responsible)
- [Dragan Trajković](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/dragan-trajkovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Emergency Headquarters he voted for decisions that gave companies contracts without a tender; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Slavoljub Živadinović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/slavoljub-zivadinovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters he voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and he admitted the factual allegations; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Aleksandar Tričković](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/aleksandar-trickovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Emergency Headquarters he voted for decisions that gave companies contracts without a tender; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Miloš Arsić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/milos-arsic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters he voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and he admitted the factual allegations; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Sanja Stojanović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/sanja-stojanovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters she voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender; she was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Dušica Davidović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/dusica-davidovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters she voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and she admitted the factual allegations; she was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Miloš Petrović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/milos-petrovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters he voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and he admitted the factual allegations; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Goran Milosavljević](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/goran-milosavljevic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters he voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and he admitted the factual allegations; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Milorad Jerkan](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/milorad-jerkan): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters he voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and he admitted the factual allegations; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Miodrag Stojanović](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/miodrag-stojanovic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters he voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and he admitted the factual allegations; he was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Snežana Radivojević](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/snezana-radivojevic): According to the indictment, as a member of the Headquarters she voted for conclusions under which companies were awarded contracts without a tender, and she admitted the factual allegations; she was pardoned before trial (responsible)
- [Aleksandar Vučić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/aleksandar-vucic): The day before the trial opened, he freed fifteen Headquarters members charged with abuse of office from criminal prosecution (responsible)
- [Vodomonteri, Lalinac](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/vodomonteri): It won water-supply contracts at inflated prices through the Headquarters without a tender; the owners pleaded guilty and were convicted of aiding (responsible)
- [Sim puk gradnja LLC, Malošište](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/sim-puk-gradnja): It won construction contracts at inflated prices through the Headquarters without a tender; the owner was convicted and must repay 10.7 million to the city (responsible)
- [City of Niš](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/grad-nis): Prosecutors suspect it lost 843 million dinars through companies hired via the city's Emergency Situations Headquarters (harmed)
- [State Audit Institution](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/dri): Its audit of Niš's 2023 budget was the first to establish that two companies had been given contracts through the Headquarters without public procurement (oversight and the public)
- [Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/mup-srbije): It arrested the mayor, the responsible officers of two companies and members of the Headquarters, and filed a new criminal complaint against the mayor (investigation and courts)
- [Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Niš](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/vjt-nis): It opened a case based on the SAI report, indicted the mayor and filed a summary indictment against members of the Headquarters (investigation and courts)
- [Higher Court in Niš](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/visi-sud-nis): It confirmed the indictment against the mayor, sentenced the company owners under plea agreements and is conducting the trial (investigation and courts)
- [Court of Appeal in Niš](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/apelacioni-sud-nis): It rejected the defence's appeal against the confirmed indictment and a request to recuse the president of the Higher Court (investigation and courts)

## Sources

- [Danas: Missing flats, millions on legal and consulting costs: what does the SAI report on Niš's budget spending say?](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/ekonomija/zagubljeni-stanovi-milioni-za-sudske-i-konsultantske-troskove-sta-sve-pise-u-izvestaju-dri-o-trosenju-niskog-budzeta/>): 7 Sep 2024
- [Danas: What did Dragana Sotirovski, who is now "remaining silent", previously tell Danas about the case that led to her arrest?](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/dragana-sotirovski-slucaj-zbog-kojeg-je-uhapsena/>): 24 Feb 2025
- [Insajder: Interior Ministry: Former Niš mayor Dragana Sotirovski arrested](<https://www.insajder.net/vesti/mup-uhapsena-bivsa-gradonacelnica-nisa-dragana-sotirovski>): 21 Feb 2025
- [Radio Slobodna Evropa: Former Niš mayor arrested at the height of the student revolt](<https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/hapsenje-nis-studentski-bunt/33329106.html>): 26 Feb 2025
- [N1: Every affair Sotirovski's name came up in: From a journalist who fought corruption to her arrest](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/sve-afere-u-kojima-se-spominjala-sotirovski-od-novinarke-koja-se-borila-protiv-korupcije-do-hapsenja/>): 21 Feb 2025
- [N1: What Sotirovski is accused of: City of Niš budget defrauded of 460 million dinars](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/sta-se-sotirovski-stavlja-na-teret-uhapsene-cetiri-osobe/>): 21 Feb 2025
- [N1: Officials, heads of health institutions, police officers and soldiers arrested in Niš](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/u-nisu-uhapseni-funkcioneri-direktori-zdravstvenih-ustanova-pripadnici-policije-i-vojske/>): 24 Feb 2025
- [021.rs: VIDEO: Former mayor's associates, heads of health institutions and a police officer arrested in Niš...](<https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Srbija/402418/VIDEO-U-Nisu-uhapseni-saradnici-bivse-gradonacelnice-celnici-zdravstvenih-ustanova-policajac.html>): 24 Feb 2025
- [Danas: Arrested members of former Niš Emergency Situations Headquarters released pending trial after admitting guilt](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/stab-za-vanredne-situacije-nis-hapsenje/>): 24 Feb 2025
- [021.rs: Deputy mayor and members of the City of Niš Emergency Situations Headquarters questioned, released pending trial](<https://www.021.rs/info/srbija/402489/saslusani-zamenica-i-clanovi-staba-za-vanredne-situacije-grada-nisa-branice-se-sa-slobode>): 24 Feb 2025
- [Južne vesti: Last detainees from Niš Emergency Situations Headquarters also questioned and released](<https://www.juznevesti.com/hronika/saslusani-i-pusteni-i-poslednji-privedeni-iz-niskog-staba-za-vanredne-situacije/>): 25 Feb 2025
- [Vreme: Neša Guska, a close associate of Dragana Sotirovski, arrested](<https://vreme.com/vesti/uhapsen-nenad-stankovic-bliski-saradnik-dragane-sotirovski/>): 27 Feb 2025
- [N1: Former Niš council member Nenad Stanković ordered into custody](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/bivsem-niskom-vecniku-nenadu-stankovic-odredjen-pritvor/>): 28 Feb 2025
- [Nova.rs: Sotirovski denies guilt: preliminary hearing concluded in case against former Niš mayor](<https://nova.rs/vesti/hronika/sotirovski-negirala-krivicu-zavrseno-pripremno-rociste-u-postupku-protiv-bivse-gradonacelnice-nisa>): 22 Oct 2026
- [021.rs: Trial of former Niš mayor: preliminary hearing postponed](<https://www.021.rs/info/srbija/445782/sudjenje-bivsoj-gradonacelnici-nisa-odlozeno-pripremno-rociste>): 10 Jun 2026
- [Južne vesti: Owners of "Vodomonteri" sentenced to house arrest, Sotirovski in custody, owner of "Sim puk" under house arrest](<https://www.juznevesti.com/hronika/vlasnici-firme-vodomonteri-osudjeni-na-kucni-zatvor-sotirovski-u-pritvoru-vlasnik-sim-puka-u-kucnom-pritvoru/>): 15 Sep 2025
- [Južne vesti: Indictment against Dragana Sotirovski confirmed with final effect](<https://www.juznevesti.com/drustvo/pravosnazno-potvrdjena-optuznica-protiv-dragane-sotirovski/>): 6 Feb 2026
- [021.rs: Prosecutors indict former Niš mayor](<https://www.021.rs/info/srbija/424119/tuzilastvo-podiglo-optuznicu-protiv-bivse-gradonacelnice-nisa>): 17 Oct 2025
- [Južne vesti: Indictment filed against Dragana Sotirovski](<https://www.juznevesti.com/hronika/podignuta-optuznica-protiv-dragane-sotirovski/>): 17 Oct 2025
- [Viši sud u Nišu: A final ruling of the Higher Court in Niš, Special Anti-Corruption Department, has confirmed the indictment brought against defendant D.S. by the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Niš, Special Anti-Corruption Department.](<https://www.ni.vi.sud.rs/vest/2505/pravnosnaznim-resenjem-viseg-suda-u-nisu-posebnog-odeljenja-za-suzbijanje-korupcije-potvrdjena-je-optuznica-viseg-javnog-tuzilastva-u-nisu-posebnog-odeljenja-za-suzbijanje-korupcije-podignuta-protiv-okr-ds.php>): 6 Feb 2026
- [N1: Detention lifted for former Niš mayor Dragana Sotirovski](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/ukinut-pritvor-dragana-sotirovski/>): 30 Dec 2025
- [Viši sud u Nišu: A final ruling of the criminal panel of the Higher Court in Niš has lifted the detention of defendant D.S.](<https://www.ni.vi.sud.rs/vest/2504/pravnosnaznim-resenjem-krivicnog-veca-viseg-suda-u-nisu-posebnog-odeljenja-za-suzbijanje-korupcije-ukinut-je-pritvor-protiv-okr-ds-i-okrivljenoj-je-odredjena-mera-zabrane-napustanja-stana-bez-odobrenja-suda-bez-primene-elektronskog-nadzora.php>): 6 Feb 2026
- [N1: Trial of former Niš mayor set for 2 September at Niš Higher Court](<https://n1info.rs/sudjenje-bivsoj-gradonacelnici-nisa-zakazano/>): 13 Aug 2026
- [Južne vesti: Members of Niš Emergency Situations Headquarters pardoned](<https://www.juznevesti.com/hronika/pomilovani-clanovi-staba-za-vanredne-situacije-u-nisu/>): 3 Nov 2026
- [N1: Main hearing postponed in case against 15 former members of Niš Emergency Situations Headquarters](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/odlozen-glavni-pretres-u-postupku-protiv-15-nekadasnjih-clanova-staba-za-vanredne-situacije-u-nisu/>): 28 Sep 2026
- [Nova.rs: Trial of indicted Niš Crisis Staff members postponed: they are accused of costing the budget more than 800 million dinars together with the former mayor](<https://nova.rs/vesti/hronika/odlozeno-sudjenje-optuzenim-clanovima-niskog-kriznog-staba-terete-se-da-su-sa-bivsom-gradonacelnicom-ostetili-budzet-za-vise-od-800-miliona-dinara/>): 28 Sep 2026
- [Viši sud u Nišu: Statement on pardon decisions](<https://www.ni.vi.sud.rs/vest/2851/s-a-o-p-s-t-e-nj-e-odluke-o-pomilovanju.php>): 3 Nov 2026
- [N1: Higher Court in Niš publishes list of people pardoned by Vučić, including Igor Novaković and Milorad Jerkan](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/visi-sud-nis-pomilovanja-aleksandar-vucic/>): 3 Nov 2026
- [N1: Trial of former Niš mayor Dragana Sotirovski begins](<https://n1info.rs/vesti/pocelo-sudjenje-bivsoj-gradonacelnici-nisa-dragani-sotirovski/>): 30 Sep 2026
- [Danas: Higher Court in Niš: former mayor Dragana Sotirovski was not pardoned](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/visi-sud-u-nisu-bivsa-gradonacelnica-dragana-sotirovski-nije-pomilovana/>): 29 Oct 2026
- [Danas: Vučić pardons General Milosav Simović and former Niš Assembly president Igor Novaković: Dragana Sotirovski not among those pardoned](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/vucic-pomilovao-generala-milosava-simovica-i-bivseg-predsednika-skupstine-grada-nisa-igora-novakovica-medju-pomilovanima-nije-dragana-sotirovski/>): 3 Nov 2026
- [Vreme: Niš court reveals who else was pardoned](<https://vreme.com/vesti/sud-u-nisu-objavio-ko-je-jos-pomilovan/>): 3 Nov 2026
- [Južne vesti: Several hundred Niš Health Centre workers sign petition for Jerkan's dismissal, also announce criminal complaints](<https://www.juznevesti.com/drustvo/nekoliko-stotina-radnika-niskog-doma-zdravlja-potpisalo-peticiju-za-jerkanovu-smenu-najavljuju-i-krivicne-prijave/>): 3 Nov 2026
- [Danas: Group of Niš Health Centre workers launches petition to remove acting director](<https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/grupa-radnika-niskog-doma-zdravlja/>): 3 Nov 2026
- [Danas: Dragana Sotirovski elected mayor of Niš](<https://www.danas.rs/politika/dragana-sotirovski-izabrana-za-gradonacelnicu-nisa/>): 21 Aug 2020
- [Danas: Niš Emergency Medical Service director responds to Danas article](<https://www.danas.rs/drustvo/direktor-hitne-pomoci-nis-reagovao-na-tekst-u-danasu/>): 25 Aug 2020
- [Nova.rs: Vučić claims Niš Health Centre director is 'a wonderful man'](<https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/vucic-tvrdi-da-je-direktor-niskog-doma-zdravlja-divan-covek/>): 22 Mar 2025
- [Južne vesti: Three months after his release from custody, Nenad Stanković appointed president of FK “Sinđelić”](<https://www.juznevesti.com/sport/tri-meseca-nakon-pustanja-iz-pritvora-nenad-stankovic-postavljen-za-predsednika-fk-sindjelic/>): 14 Jul 2025

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Source: Odgovornost, https://odgovornost.rs/en/afere/sotirovski-stab-nis  
As of: 5 Nov 2026  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)