30 Oct Three Freedoms Under the Magnifying Glass: October 17 – October 30, 2025

Posted at 12:39h in News, Three Freedoms Under the Magnifying Glass by

Belgrade, October 30, 2025

Violations of basic freedoms in Serbia

October 17 – October 30, 2025

 

In the previous two weeks, the police repeatedly interfered with citizens at public gatherings. First, they stopped a convoy of students from Novi Pazar and on that occasion they searched the vehicle accompanying them, with the aim of harassing this group of young people who will walk for 16 days to Novi Sad and who are destroying prejudices about divisions and differences between citizens of different religious and ethnic affiliations in Serbia. At the protest in support of the people of Palestine in front of Youth Center Belgrade, the police legitimized the participants of the protest and thus once again showed that pro-Palestinian and anti-war activists in Serbia are also exposed to persecution and repression.

The regime continues to retaliate against employees in education and other public institutions who supported student and civil protests. Another dean was summoned to a hearing before the Misdemeanor Court due to a report by the Education Inspectorate alleging that she did not organize classes during the student blockades. Three teachers from Valjevo Gymnasium were informed that their contracts will not be extended, and a nurse from Kovin received a warning before dismissal. In addition to education and healthcare, culture is also under attack. The Board of the Belgrade International Theater Festival (Bitef) decided, contrary to the decision of the Artistic Directorate, to block the arrival of Swiss director Milo Rau at the festival because he publicly spoke against lithium mining last year.

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