Belgrade, August 29, 2024<\/p>\n
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Environmental activists, civil society organizations and independent, critical media have been the main targets of the authorities for the past two weeks. In attempts to suppress the environmental protests and with the aim of diverting attention from lithium mining, which is opposed by a huge number of citizens, the government used repressive mechanisms against political opponents.<\/p>\n
Even in the weeks after the big environmental protest in Belgrade, detentions of activists continued. Most of them are charged with the crime of “endangering the constitutional order or security of Serbia, calling or inciting to forcefully change its constitutional order, overthrow the highest state authorities or representatives of those authorities.” According to the Criminal Code, a sentence of 6 months to 5 years is prescribed for this crime. Activists are now being detained because of posts on social networks where they express their opposition to the project of the company “Rio Tinto”. It is clear that these acts of freedom of expression can not represent a threat to the constitutional order. Since the beginning of environmental protests this year, more than 33 people have been arrested or detained.<\/p>\n
This week, the news about the existence of “lists” of foreign citizens who are not welcome in Serbia because of their views reached the public. The existence of a “verbal offense” thus ominously indicates the increasingly authoritarian tendencies of the regime in the country.<\/p>\n
In addition to environmental activists who oppose lithium mining, other environmental activists across the country have been under pressure. Environmental activists and the crew of the show “Slike \u017eivota” were attacked in the Homolje mountains by workers of the utility company. The higher court in Negotin confirmed the indictment against three activists from the Association “Ne dam – Nu dau”. They are accused of spreading national, religious and racial hatred against the Chinese in Serbia.<\/p>\n