The phone of Belgrade University Rector Vladan Djokic was infected with Israeli-made Pegasus spyware in 2026, a digital rights group said Monday, amid nearly two years of protests against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

The disclosure comes ahead of a tense election this weekend, seen as a contest between the student movement and Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party, which has ruled for 14 years.

Citizen Lab, working with Serbia’s SHARE Foundation, said it confirmed the infection with high confidence. In September, rights groups reported that at least 14 activists and students had been targeted, including with Pegasus. An investigation is also examining whether prosecutor Rade Bajic’s phone was hacked after he received an Apple threat notification in August.

Authorities have denied involvement in spyware attacks. Pegasus can secretly access messages, locations, microphones and cameras. SHARE warned that failure to investigate could expand digital repression.

Students alleged their meetings were monitored and colleagues faced planned detention before Thursday’s rally. Protests began after a railway station canopy collapse killed 16 people in Novi Sad in November 2024.

Djokic supported the protests and resisted pressure to end student blockades. Police raided his office in March. Bajic was replaced after raising alleged corruption involving a proposed luxury complex linked to Jared Kushner.

NSO says its technology targets serious crime and terrorism. The US blacklisted the company in 2021 over spyware misuse against journalists, activists and officials.

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