An investigation released by the Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia (CINS) has examined the implementation of the massive EXPO 2027 project, raising questions regarding the transparency of associated contracts and the affiliations of involved parties. While authorities discuss investments valued in the hundreds of millions of euros for the project’s infrastructure, CINS’s research suggests that several involved companies and individuals have documented links to figures associated with organized crime and established political and business circles. The investigation indicates that the roster of contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers for the EXPO includes entities connected to associates or family members of individuals previously implicated in regional criminal structures.
Furthermore, the report notes connections to persons convicted of significant criminal offenses, alongside individuals linked to high-profile incidents. CINS also highlighted instances involving recently established companies that secured access to high-value state contracts for major infrastructure projects within Belgrade, as well as entities connected to prominent figures in sports and business suspected of benefiting from public tenders. CINS noted that a primary challenge in its inquiry was the lack of public official documentation, as state institutions have not released a comprehensive list of all participating companies.
Consequently, the organization compiled a database of over 200 companies identified within the EXPO 2027 delivery chain by utilizing open-source materials and court records. The findings suggest that some of these companies maintain indirect ties to individuals with criminal histories or close government proximity, prompting questions about the distribution of public funds and oversight of strategic state projects in Serbia. The report concludes that the EXPO 2027 initiative, presented as an economic development project, is interwoven with a complex nexus
Topics: #expo #serbia #companies
