Consul General | Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in New York

Vladimir Božović, PhD

Born on December 3, 1970, in Nikšić, Vladimir Božović, PhD completed his secondary education with a focus on literature. He graduated from the Higher School of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Zemun and subsequently earned a law degree. He obtained a master's degree with a thesis titled "Corruption and Anti-Corruption Awareness with Special Reference to the Police," earning the title of Master of Legal Sciences. In March 2019, he earned his doctorate from the Faculty of Security Studies at the University of Belgrade with a dissertation on "Police Integrity and Corruption in the Police in Serbia".

Between 1991 and 1993, he served as President of the Student Union of the Higher School of Internal Affairs, President of the Student Union of Higher Schools in Belgrade, and a member of the Executive Board of the Student Union of Belgrade.

From 1995 to 1997, he worked as a legal trainee in Belgrade, Milwaukee, and Chicago, USA. In 1997, he established his own law practice, Božović Law Office, and also served as a lawyer and head of the Department of Justice and Human Rights at the Coordination Center of the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohija. He was legal counsel to the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral, working on numerous notable cases related to the protection of fundamental human and civil rights.

From 2004 to 2007, he was Assistant Minister of Police and General Inspector of the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia. In 2005, he served as the National Coordinator for Police and Human Rights of Serbia and Montenegro at the Council of Europe. From April to November 2012 and again from June 2017 to December 2019, he worked as an advisor to the Minister in the Cabinet of the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia. From November 2012 to May 2014, he held the position of State Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for internal control and international cooperation. From May 2015 to June 2017, he served as an advisor to the Prime Minister, overseeing regional cooperation and relations with religious communities. From November 2019 to July 2023, he was the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Montenegro.

He has completed specialized courses and training in Serbia, the USA, and Hungary, including the "ICITAP" program in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the "KOKALIS" program of the Harvard University Foundation on the science and art of negotiation in Greece. As Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs and General Inspector, he participated in three international conferences on combating corruption within the European Union.

He has published several scientific papers, notably:

"Temporary Criminal Procedure Code of Kosovo," Legal Life Journal, 2003, Vol. 52, No. 9, pp. 509-524;
"Corruption in the Serbian Police - Current State," Law - Theory and Practice Journal, 2012, Vol. 29, Nos. 1-3, pp. 27-43;
"Personal Evidence in Criminalistics and Criminal Procedural Law," Proceedings; Sarajevo, Banja Luka: International Association of Criminalists, 2013;
"Humanitarian Organizations in the Function of Terrorism," in the Proceedings of the International Conference "Terrorism as a Global Threat," Faculty of Law for Economy and Justice, University of Business Academy Novi Sad, 2012.

In March 2017, he received an award from the international association Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences for his work "A Comparative Study of Public Opinion about Police Corruption in Croatia and Serbia." He has presented at numerous international and domestic scientific and professional conferences and seminars.

Notably, he participated in the International Conference titled "Civil Defense and Preparing Civil Society for Disaster Risk Prevention," held in Baku and Gabala from March 11 to 14, 2013, organized by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the International Civil Defense Organization based in Geneva. The conference included 150 participants from 54 countries and discussed cooperation in combating organized crime, with a focus on high-tech crime and drug trafficking.

At the invitation of the Council for Inclusive Governance (CIG), he attended roundtables in Istanbul, Skopje, and Belgrade on the topic "Seeking a Solution for Northern Kosovo," where he delivered notable presentations. The meetings aimed to continue discussions on finding solutions for institutions in northern Kosovo and relations between Belgrade and Priština, focusing on establishing functional local governments and normalizing the situation.

Invited by the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, he participated in the conference "Defense World 2013, International Defense and Security," held in Athens from April 2 to 3, 2013. Conference topics included international challenges—national security and defense strategy, border control and illegal migration, high-tech crime, civil protection and risk management, maritime security, and European funds for the defense and security sector. He commended the Greek police for their achievements in combating corruption, emphasizing that this fight is a priority for the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

He also participated in the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Budapest Process titled "Silk Routes Partnership for Migration," held in Istanbul from April 18 to 20, 2013, where he called on participating countries and international organizations to show greater understanding, solidarity, and humanity, noting that we live in a world of multi-communication with minimal humanity, especially evident in migration issues.

From May 13 to 16, 2013, he led the delegation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia at the 42nd European Regional Conference of INTERPOL member states in Budapest, attended by 50 European countries. During the conference, Serbia was nominated, at his initiative, as a member of the provisional committee of INTERPOL's European Sub-Directorate and, alongside France and Germany, as a member of the selection team for appointing the acting head of this sub-directorate.

From October 14 to 17, 2013, he participated in a meeting of the Global Community on establishing strategic guidelines for international police in peacekeeping operations, organized by the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Durham University Institute for Global Security. The meeting analyzed the draft Strategic Framework for UN Police in international peacekeeping operations, developed after five regional conferences held in 2012 and 2013.

In November 2014, as Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Chairman of the Protocol Committee, he was involved in organizing the Third Meeting of Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European Countries.