Following one of the largest civic mobilizations in Serbia’s recent history, marked by a worrying pattern of state violence and intimidation, BCSDN reiterates its condemnation of the systematic pressure of Serbia’s civil society and calls for robust EU action to protect civic space. The 15 March protest in Belgrade, sparked by the fatal infrastructure collapse in Novi Sad, turned violent after a suspected sonic weapon triggered panic and injuries among peaceful demonstrators. Despite official denials, the Serbian government later confirmed the presence of a Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) at the protest, although it claimed it was not used against the crowd. In the days since, CSOs have reported intimidation, arrests, surveillance, and media suppression. Amid this alarming pattern of repression, and in solidarity with the growing wave of civic resistance across the country, BCSDN supports the international appeal against repression in Serbia and urges the EU to condemn state violence against those resisting authoritarian backsliding, demand an independent investigation, and condition Serbia’s EU accession on tangible reforms that guarantee civil liberties and democratic accountability. Read more here.
Source: BCSDN
