The government's coordinator for public relations, Slobodan Homen, stated on March 30 that the arrest of business crime suspects, including one assistant minister, is an indicator that there are no protected or untouchable people in Serbia.

"The Serbian government welcomes the coordinated operation of the police and the prosecution in which, among the individuals suspected of business crime and corruption, one assistant minister was arrested," Homen told BETA.

In his words, the operation indicates that anyone who is suspected of illegal activities, regardless of his or her state or party post, will be prosecuted according to the law.

Commenting on the arrest of his assistant, Milorad Ilic, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Milutin Mrkonjic announced that he will initiate proceedings for Ilic's suspension at one of the upcoming sessions of the Serbian government.

The police arrested seven persons, including Assistant Minister Ilic, for abuse in the privatization of the Valjevo-based company Jablanica. Ilic and the six other arrested are suspected of having stolen EUR2 million from this company, the Serbian Interior Ministry said in a news release.