Serbian CSOs, including BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, have urged the Serbian government to end repression against CSOs and activists. This follows the government’s recent attacks on civic space after the controversial Serbia-EU Rio Tinto deal on lithium mining, which disregarded public opinion and led to widespread protests. The government is accused of detaining activists, conducting smear campaigns, and using financial records to intimidate dissenters. CSOs demand an end to these actions and the respect of citizens’ rights to protest. They also call out the misuse of confidential data by pro-government media. BCSDN strongly supports this statement and remains committed to defending civic space and fundamental freedoms, despite baseless allegations by the Serbian media Informer accusing it of attempting to topple the Serbian government through cooperation with and financial support of one of the protest organizers. As a regional network promoting a more enabling environment for civil society, BCSDN remains committed to closely monitoring the situation and responding appropriately as it evolves. Read more here.
Source: BCSDN, Civic Initiatives