Pegasus Spyware Infection Confirmed on Serbian University Rector's iPhone Days Before Election

The iPhone of Vladan Đokić, rector of the University of Belgrade and a prominent supporter of Serbia's student protest movement, was confirmed to be infected with NSO Group's Pegasus spyware in 2026. The infection was discovered by Citizen Lab and reported on October 19, just six days before Serbia's October 25 snap parliamentary election. The attack used a zero-click exploit, meaning the victim did not need to interact with any malicious link or file. This case highlights the continued use of Pegasus spyware against civil society figures, academics, and political activists. The timing of the discovery, shortly before a national election, raises serious concerns about political surveillance and interference.