Public Company "Belgrade Fortress" announced that starting tomorrow, June 3, it will not be possible to enter the Upper Town between half past one and half past five at night through four gates: Sahat, Kralj, Defterdareva and the Gate of Despot Stefan.
The decision was made due to frequent incidents which in the previous period were recorded in the area of Gornji Grad during the night hours, says the announcement, while the acting director of this company, Nemanja Šegrt, said that "frequent acts of vandalism and irresponsible behavior during the night hours leave consequences for the appearance, maintenance and safety of this area. We are convinced that this measure will contribute to its better protection and a safer stay for all visitors".
Is it safe at the Fortress?
He did not mention what about the existing security cameras and physical security, whether the closing of the gates indicates that visiting Kalemegdan is not safe despite the cameras and security, and on the basis of which it was decided that those four hours of the night are risky and all other hours of the day are not.
In order to get answers to those questions, we tried to talk to the acting director, but the contact phone from the Belgrade Fortress website was busy all the time during the last hour of the designated working hours. As soon as the working hours ended, the phone connection was released, but no one picked up the phone.
Where are the cameras?
JP "Belgrade Fortress" announced in March 2024 that 67 security cameras were installed in 64 locations according to the project of the Architectural and Construction Institute. The media enthusiastically reported this, considering that the work on installing video surveillance began at the end of 2021.
The job of installing public cameras was won by a group of three bidders in a tender organized by JP "Belgrade fortress" in the value of 52.197.600 dinars including VAT.
In the news from March 2024 that the cameras were finally installed, it was also written that the Commissioner for the Protection of Personal Data is now waiting, because without his opinion the cameras cannot be put into operation. Namely, according to the law, before such systems start active operation, the data handler is obliged to inform the Commissioner about the introduction of new technologies that may pose a risk to the rights of citizens, so that he can give an opinion on it.
There is no publicly available information about the implementation and completion of this procedure, which of course does not mean that it did not happen, but it is unusual that there is no information in the media that video surveillance has been initiated.
Security
Before the cameras were installed, security guards were present at the Belgrade Fortress day and night and managed to prevent about fifteen thefts and attempts to destroy cultural property every month.
At the end of December last year, they received reinforcements. The city of Belgrade signed a contract for the physical and technical security of the Kalemegdan Fortress and Park with a consortium led by the company "T&M Group Solutions". As Nikola Jovanović, director of the Center for Local Self-Government, said at the time, the head of that company is former handball player Dana Šijan, and it is close to Vladimir Mandić, known for numerous incidents and attacks on the people of Belgrade.
"The contract is worth as much as 151 million dinars including VAT, and this consortium was the only bidder. It is also interesting that the contract was awarded only one day after the deadline for submission of bids," said Nikola Jovanović, stressing that the companies that participated in the incidents should have their licenses revoked.
Accidents and incidents
It happened that, despite all the security, on Sunday, May 31, a young man fell from a height of 15 meters and suffered serious injuries.
The decision to close the four gates of the Upper Town was made by JP "Beogradska fortress" a day after that event.
Does this public company think that the Upper Town of the Belgrade Fortress is only safe when it is empty?
Let's recall just a few years back: at the beginning of June 2024, a man died after falling against the walls, and two weeks after that, an eleven-year-old child was injured.
In 2020, graffiti appeared on the newly renovated pedestal of the Winner, as well as on the Stambol Gate and Damad Ali Pasha's turbet. Tomb of the National Heroes was dotted more than 10 times from 2022 to 2924, and the last time this January.
Tomb of the National Heroes, January 2026. The greatest damage to the Fortress was done in May 2020 in Barutana, when a Roman statue from the 2nd century was knocked down and broke into several pieces.
Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park are visited annually by more than two million visitors.
Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!
