09 Jun Three Freedoms Under the Magnifying Glass: 26 May – 8 June, 2023
Belgrade, 9 June 2023
Violations of basic freedoms in Serbia
26 May – 8 June, 2023
This reporting period was marked by violations of the freedom of assembly at the established “Serbia against violence” protests, which are organized every week in Belgrade, because public figures who support the protests and participate in them receive insults and threats from sympathizers of the ruling party. Actor Marko Janketić was attacked on the street, and members of the “People’s Patrol” had several “interventions” during one of the protests.
The Belgrade Info Pride Center was attacked for the 18th time, and the worrying fact is that the perpetrators have only been found twice so far.
As far as freedom of speech is concerned, in this period it was violated in a large number of cases, both in the Parliament of Serbia, where MPs called out independent journalists and the media in which they work, and outside it. The most explicit case is the arrest of journalist Boško Savković on suspicion of carrying a “hanging doll with the face of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić” at the protest, even though he was only carrying a banner. A group of people broke into the yard of N1 television without authorization, and after 14 years, serious threats were again sent to the journalist Brankica Stanković from the stands of Partizan fans.
You can see all previous reviews here.
* The dynamics of publishing the report will depend on the current situation.