Serbia’s upcoming parliamentary elections on October 25 have been rocked by so-called “student protests” in the runup to Sunday’s voting, and USAID funding is still flowing to an organization supporting opponents of Aleksandar Vučić. 

According to USASpending.gov, which houses the official open data source of federal spending including information about federal awards such as contracts, grants, and loans, an entity known as the Center for Research, Transparency, and Accountability (CRTA) has received $832,432.47 in funding with a total of $2.8 million still obligated.

CRTA is a non-governmental organization (NGO) known to be behind the student-led protests across Serbia. The group’s website tracks elections, media and public opinion, and published a list of “student demands” of the government. 

Reuters reported on Wednesday, “The student protest movement has ballooned to become one of the most powerful political forces in the country and poses the greatest threat yet to the rule of Aleksandar Vučić, who has dominated Serbian politics first as prime minister, then president, since 2014.” 

A poll published earlier this month showed the Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) slightly behind the student-supported candidates, but with just two percentage points separating them. 

Vučić stepped down as the country’s president in late September to run for the position of prime minister, a position he previously held from 2014-17 before being elected president. 

He has publicly alleged foreign involvement in efforts to destabilize Serbia through NGOs like CRTA ,and in 2025 Serbian authorities sought information on the abuse of USAID funds. 

In an earlier report, Serbian prosecutor Nenad Stefanovic said in a television interview, “The (Serbian) Special Anti-Corruption Department… contacted the U.S. Justice Department for information concerning USAID over the abuse of funds, possible money laundering, and the improper spending of American taxpayers’ funds in Serbia.”

USAID gave CRTA an award for Elections Integrity Activity in 2023 and expanded it on January 17, 2025, just three days before President Trump was sworn in for his second term. 

The U.S. Serbian Embassy published a Demonstration Alert on October 16, advising Americans in the country to monitor local media for updates, avoid crowds, and be aware of surroundings. 

“Marches and demonstrations can be accompanied by a heavy police presence and may result in slowed or blocked traffic and public transportation due to road closures until well after the demonstration ends. Some past demonstrations have turned violent,” the alert read. 

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