Former Serbian President Boris Tadić and other officials are clashing over the sale of the state-owned oil company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) nearly two decades after the transaction, with disputes highlighting conflicting accounts and lingering political tensions.
Media reports suggest that participants in the 2005 sale are issuing contradictory statements about the process and the parties involved. Some claim there was no competitive tender and that only Russian interests were considered, while others argue that companies including Austria’s OMV and Russia’s Gazprom were part of preliminary discussions.
Tadić, who served as president from 2004 to 2012, has sought to shift responsibility for the sale onto the administration of then-Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica. “The negotiations were largely conducted by officials delegated by Koštunica’s government,” Tadić said, acknowledging that mistakes were made but emphasizing that he was not personally in charge of all aspects.
Opposition figures remain divided, with internal disagreements emerging alongside broader political conflicts over the sale. Analysts note that the debate underscores how the privatization of strategic assets continues to shape Serbian politics, even 18 years later.
While the sale itself was approved under Koštunica’s tenure, the long-term economic and political consequences have sparked renewed scrutiny, with each former official seeking to distance themselves from perceived missteps.