Secrets of the “Avala Valleys”: A man convicted of attempted murder builds a 400,000 Euro villa for the SAJ commander

President Aleksandar Vučić later appeared at SAJ’s anniversary celebration where Igor Žmirić publicly thanked him and presented him with an award on behalf of the SAJ unit

The new commander of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ), Igor Žmirić, has become the owner of a villa in the new prestigious residential complex “Avala Valleys,” worth more than 400,000 Euro. The villa is being built for him by Nenad Šekularac, a man convicted of attempted murder and the twin brother of the notorious Aleksandra Biba Šekularac, who was arrested during Operation “Sabre” because of her close ties to the leaders of the Zemun clan. Šekularac has confirmed that he is building the villa for Žmirić and explained that the police officer did not have enough money for the investment, so he is helping him financially.

When Igor Žmirić was appointed head of the elite SAJ in November last year, the public reacted with outrage.

The reason was that Žmirić had previously distinguished himself in the violent suppression of student protests. He was also one of the main figures in the events of August last year, when students were forcibly taken to the Government building, where they later stated that they were abused through threats and humiliation. The first public testimony about these events came from a student who described the role of senior police officers present that night.

The manner in which students were treated during those events was widely perceived as a factor that contributed to Žmirić’s promotion. Until then, SAJ had been led by Colonel Spasoje Vulević, during whose tenure the unit did not participate in the violent suppression of student protests. With Žmirić’s arrival, there is a widespread belief that this elite unit has been placed under the direct and complete control of President Aleksandar Vučić.

KRIK’s investigation reveals details that further call into question Žmirić’s appointment to the head of this important police unit, particularly his close ties with an individual who has a serious criminal background and who played a key role in securing him an expensive property.

Specifically, the new police commander does business with Nenad Šekularac, a man convicted of attempted murder and the twin brother of Aleksandra Biba Šekularac, who was arrested during Operation Sabre because of her closeness to the leaders of the Zemun clan.

Žmirić and his wife bought a plot of land measuring around 1,000 square meters in the area where Šekularac is developing a luxury residential complex known as “Avala Valleys.” On that plot, a company owned by Šekularac’s wife is currently building a villa with a swimming pool for the police commander.

According to a real estate agency’s estimate, the villa’s market value exceeds 400,000 Euro. This raises questions about how a police officer could afford such an investment, given that his monthly salary is slightly above 2,000 Euro.

The relationship between Žmirić and Šekularac goes beyond a simple business arrangement. Social media posts published by Šekularac, in which he openly defends Žmirić from public criticism and refers to him as a close friend, suggest a long-standing personal connection.

Šekularac, on the other hand, openly explained his relationship with Žmirić. He stated that they have known each other for two decades and that he helped Žmirić become the owner of the villa, which he claimed is currently worth around 350,000 Euro.

According to him, Žmirić sold his apartment and paid part of the money, while the rest of the construction has been financed gradually, with Šekularac providing assistance because Žmirić could not pay the full amount at once.

Šekularac acknowledged that his criminal conviction could be perceived as problematic in the context of Žmirić’s position but insisted that he had been unjustly convicted, claiming that he himself had been wounded in the incident for which he was later sentenced.

Concerns have been raised about how Žmirić passed mandatory security checks required for senior police commanders, given his close relationship with a convicted individual and the nature of their financial dealings. Questions have also been raised about the origin of the funds used to finance such a property and whether this relationship undermines internal trust and discipline within SAJ.

The official website of “Avala Valleys” describes the project as a luxury residential complex offering privacy, security, and modern living in a natural environment at the foot of Mount Avala. The settlement includes villas with private pools, video surveillance, and maintained green spaces, with properties ranging from 140 to over 400 square meters.

One of the larger villas, exceeding 200 square meters, is being built on the plot owned by Žmirić.

The “Avala Valleys” complex still under construction. Some villas are already completed and occupied, while others remain in various stages of development. Žmirić’s villa is nearly finished, with only final landscaping and pool paving remaining.

The project itself is directly linked to Nenad Šekularac and his wife Danijela, whose company owns and develops the “Avala Valleys” complex. Official documents show that construction of Žmirić’s villa began in February 2023, on land purchased from Šekularac.

While the building permit lists construction costs of just over 85,000 Euro, market estimates place the value of the completed property at more than 400,000 Euro.

Šekularac has stated that Žmirić financed the construction by selling an apartment in Belgrade and with additional financial assistance provided by him. He declined to specify the exact amounts involved.

Their relationship, according to Šekularac, dates back to their shared involvement in sports, particularly boxing, and he describes Žmirić as a close and loyal friend.

At the same time, individuals who opposed Šekularac during the expansion of the “Avala Valleys” project reported facing intimidation and threats. A criminal complaint filed against Šekularac details allegations of pressure, threats related to employment, and harassment aimed at forcing a landowner to sell his property.

Despite these allegations, prosecutors dismissed the complaint, characterizing the conflict as a private property dispute and noting that Šekularac had apologized for his behavior.

Similar outcomes occurred in earlier cases involving property disputes, where criminal complaints against Šekularac were also dismissed. However, Šekularac was convicted in a more serious case involving an armed confrontation in 2005, when he and another man were found guilty of attempted murder following a shootout near the Military High School in Belgrade. He was sentenced to a year and a half in prison.

The case attracted public attention due to the involvement of Šekularac’s sister, Aleksandra Biba Šekularac, who was widely known for her connections to organized crime figures and was detained during Operation Sabre, though never charged.

Her name has continued to surface in public controversies involving alleged links to senior state officials and criminal networks, further reinforcing the broader context in which Žmirić’s association with the Šekularac family is being scrutinized.

Žmirić has a tattoo on his neck resembling a rose, similar to one worn by Milorad Ulemek Legija, the former commander of the Special Operations Unit (JSO), who was later convicted for organizing the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić.

Šekularac has stated that Žmirić briefly served in the JSO before transferring to other police units, though this detail does not appear in Žmirić’s official biography.

According to official records, Žmirić began his career in the 63rd Parachute Brigade, later joining the Gendarmerie and then the Counter-Terrorist Unit formed after the dissolution of the JSO. He later served in the Unit for the Protection of Certain Persons and Facilities before being appointed head of SAJ in November last year.

His promotion followed the retirement of long-serving SAJ commander Spasoje Vulević, who publicly stated that the president did not want an armed unit that was not under absolute political control.

President Aleksandar Vučić later appeared at SAJ’s anniversary celebration for the first time, where Žmirić publicly thanked him and presented him with an award on behalf of the unit, without the presence of the former commander.

Žmirić’s public profile has also been shaped by his alleged role in the August events at the Government building garage, where protesting students were detained, abused, and humiliated by police officers. Criminal complaints related to those events are still under review by the prosecution.

In light of these findings, serious questions remain regarding the origin of Žmirić’s assets, the nature of his relationship with convicted individuals, and the implications these ties may have for the integrity, independence, and credibility of Serbia’s elite anti-terrorist unit.