15 May Three Freedoms Under the Magnifying Glass: May 1 – May 15, 2025

Posted at 15:31h in News, Three Freedoms Under the Magnifying Glass by

Belgrade, May 15, 2025

Violations of basic freedoms in Serbia

May 1 – May 15, 2025

 

The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad has filed an indictment against seven activists from the informal student group Stav and five members of the Movement of Free Citizens. The prosecution has requested that the Higher Court in Novi Sad find the accused guilty of the alleged crime of preparing acts against the constitutional order and security of Serbia, committed in complicity with the crime of attacking the constitutional order and inciting violent change of the constitutional order. The prosecution has demanded that the court impose the maximum sentence prescribed by law for these charges. The activists are facing up to five years in prison. Six activists are still in custody, while the other six are out of the country. One of the arrested, professor Marija Vasić, went on a hunger and thirst strike and today she was transported to a hospital in Belgrade due to health complications.

Citizens and students recognized the danger of this case of gross political abuse of the law in order to deal with political dissidents of the ruling regime and called for protests in several cities. There was a scuffle with the police in front of the court building and the prosecutor’s office in Novi Sad and in front of the Basic Court in Niš.

The process being conducted against the activists, based on an illegally wiretapped conversation, and a possible verdict for a crime that was not committed would be putting the final stop to freedom of expression in a country where the law is not equal for all, and institutions primarily protect ruling party interests.

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