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Medieval Serbia
Significant written
sources from the Serb history regarding
intelligence-security activities date from the period of
Emperor Dusan’s rule.
Emperor Dusan’s Code is the first historically
important legal document in which a definition of such
activities can be traced. Relying on the Byzantine
experience, Emperor Dusan introduced 70 different titles
into the administrative structure of his rule, some of
which were connected with intelligence-security
activities.
From the First
Serbian Uprising (1804) until the WWI (1914)
The development of
modern security and in certain forms even intelligence
activities in the territory of Serbia dates from the
beginning of the XIX century, namely immediately prior
to and during the First Serbian Uprising.
In 1804, at the very beginning of the Uprising,
intelligence work was primarily focused on the
military-political field. The first examples of
double-play, i.e. recruitment of Turkish agents and
misinformation with the aim of deluding Turkish
population originate from this period. Great importance
was given to internal security of the Uprising, and
treason, defeatism and espionage were considered as
extremely grave criminal acts and were severely
punished.
The first official document from the era of Karadjordje,
important for the development of intelligence-security
activities, is the “Nacertanije” of March 1810. In the
Article, I of this document for the first time police
and military work are separated and the position of the
“Head of Police” is established responsible to the
Ministry and superior to so-called “liktors” -
assistants for the interior, foreign and secret
services.
At its session in January 1811, the Parliament reached a
decision to establish six Ministries, including the
Ministry of Interior (“Popeciteljstvo vnutreni dela”).
Prince Milos Obrenovic, in the period of his first rule
(1815 - 1839), dedicated great attention to the
organization of intelligence-security activities. The
basic task of the bodies in charge of implementing such
activities was to protect the rule of Prince Milos.
During his rule, intelligence-security bodies controlled
every aspect of social life, dealt with all political
and administrative works, meddled in the economic life
of the state and were directed towards the foreign
policy of Serbia of that time. Gathering and processing
confidential data were some of powerful secret weapons
of Milos Obrenovic. The institution of a “secret
policeman” in Belgrade and a range of commissaries all
over the country represented the basis of the state
security system.
In 1862, the Central State Administration was
established in the Principality of Serbia, with seven
Ministries, including the Ministry of Interior. Apart
from public security, the Ministry of Interior was in
charge of the activities, which may be classified as
intelligence-security activities.
A need for further development of the state protection
system led to the formation of special services with
clearly divided fields of competences. The tasks of
public security were gradually separated from the
special tasks of state security.
However, at the time of parliamentarism and
constitutional monarchy, party divisions within the
police system were, however, inevitable. In order to
overcome that problem and regain full control over the
security system, King Aleksandar Obrenovic decided to
establish a special instrument of protection.
Upon adoption of the Law on Establishment of the
Department for Confidential Police Work on October 17th
1899, the Department for Confidential Police Work was
created within the Ministry of Interior. This Department
set the basis of the new security structure.
Confidential activities were completely separated and
placed under the direct responsibility of the Head of
the Confidential Department and the King personally.
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