Dačić's former aide "has no intention to flee country"

Dačić's former aide "has no intention to flee country"

BELGRADE -- Branko Lazarević has told the daily Večernje Novosti that he "spoke the truth" during his recent questioning related to "the Šarić affair."

Lazarević, who in the past served as chief of Interior Minister Ivica Dačić's cabinet, and then charge d'affairs at the Serbian embassy in Greece, added he was "protecting nobody, and had no plans to run away."

"I made no deals with anyone, nor did I seek a privileged position. I did not protect anybody. I told the truth," Lazarević told the Belgrade newspaper.

He said he "promised" the chief of MUP's criminal investigations that he would show up for questioning, and did so, and was "surprised" that the authorities decided to confiscate his passport - "considering he had no intention to flee the country."

The daily noted that Lazarević is suspected of passing on official secrets to the narco-clan led by fugitive Darko Šarić.

Lazarević "expressly rejected all speculation that he struck a secret deal with the prosecution that would see him emerge as a protected witness in the affair," said the newspaper.

Asked whether it seemed to him "at all odd" that he was not placed in custody after the questioning, considering the gravity of the charges against him, Lazarević said he found it odd that the prosecutor took his passport, "and denied him freedom of movement."

Lazarević stressed that he "never postponed his arrival to the questioning," as it was in his interest to "clear his name."

He also told the daily he was worried the most about the safety of his family and that his wife "in late 2008 received threats over the phone, with his name...