BCSDN strongly condemns the February 25 raids on our member Civic Initiatives, along with CRTA, Trag Foundation, the Center for Practical Politics, and National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS) as yet another instance of state pressure on independent civil society in Serbia. These organizations have long been at the forefront of protecting human rights, defending civic space, and advocating for democracy. We stand in solidarity with them and all activists facing intimidation and institutional harassment.
By order of the High Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, law enforcement raided these organizations without prior notice or official explanation, leaving them to learn of the alleged accusations—misuse of USAID funds and money laundering—through reports in pro-government tabloids. Authorities failed to present search warrants, and the organizations have never been officially informed of the basis for the raids. Meanwhile, the National Bank of Serbia and the Anti-Money Laundering Authority were instructed to review their financial records—mirroring earlier targeting of activists’ personal accounts. These actions demonstrate how authorities are already enforcing restrictive measures, despite the Foreign Agents Law still being in parliamentary procedure.
This is part of a broader effort to stifle dissent, misusing state institutions to discredit and constrain organizations working to uphold democracy and human rights. The ongoing repression—through legal intimidation, financial scrutiny, and media smear campaigns—not only instill fear but also fuels public skepticism about CSOs’ work, disregarding their commitment to civic space and democracy.
BCSDN calls for an immediate end to state harassment of civil society and urges Serbian authorities to ensure transparency and publicly clarify the legal basis for these actions. We also call on the EU and international actors to address these developments as part of Serbia’s EU accession process.
BCSDN welcomes the solidarity emerging among civil society, the media sector, and activists in Serbia, who have already begun organizing support for the targeted organizations, demonstrating a united front against repression.
Beyond Serbia, we are also concerned that this trend could spread across the region, as seen in past crises. The misuse of state institutions to suppress civil society risks setting a precedent for other Western Balkan governments, further straining fragile democracies.
BCSDN remains committed to monitoring these developments and advocating for a region where civil society remains independent, resilient, and free from political intimidation.