02 Aug Three Freedoms Under the Magnifying Glass: July 12 – August 1, 2024

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Belgrade, July 12, 2024

Violations of basic freedoms in Serbia

July 12 – August 1, 2024

From July 12 to August 1, 2024, several serious human rights violations were recorded in Serbia concerning freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Activist Zlatko Kokanović was detained due to comments made on social media, while Nikola Ristić was investigated because of a tweet. This practice of intimidation and abuse of judicial authorities indicates a growing infringement on freedom of expression, aimed at discouraging political dissenters and journalists.

Independent media in Serbia face serious threats, particularly after officials from the Serbian Progressive Party accused media outlets of creating a dangerous atmosphere. The campaign against independent media has been further exacerbated by threats to employees of N1 TV, who have been accused of dehumanizing President Vučić. These actions come at a time when the UN Special Rapporteur has highlighted the increasing attacks on journalists and activists in Serbia.

Freedom of assembly and association has also been seriously undermined. The police allowed neo-Nazis to organize a rally in Novi Sad, which resulted in violence against opponents of the event. Additionally, an incident involving a police officer at the Critical Raw Materials Summit demonstrates an abuse of authority, while activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as local activists, face bans and excessive use of force by the police.

Finally, reports indicate that compliance with European standards in Serbia remains problematic. The European Commission’s report points to a lack of independence of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media and insufficient implementation of measures to protect journalists and media pluralism. This situation is further compounded by the non-implementation of legal acts and misuse of budget funds, which further threatens media freedom and the legal safety of journalists in the country.

You can find more details about these cases in the full report below.