Civic Initiatives has released an updated, October analysis of their report titled “Weaponizing Influence: How Russia’s and China’s Soft Power Clashes Serbia’s Civil Society using Lithium Controversies,” incorporating new data and refreshed sections. The report highlights how environmental protests have become a platform for broader demands for transparency, rule of law, and democratic governance, while also revealing the growing Russian and Chinese influence in suppressing civil rights in Serbia. It offers targeted recommendations for the international community to protect Serbian civil society and promote civic freedoms.
Key Insights:
- Lithium protests are not just about environmental issues—they represent broader democratic demands for transparency, rule of law, and public participation.
- Serbia’s collaboration with Russia reflects a strategy to suppress civil society, labeling protests as foreign-driven “color revolutions.”
- Media campaigns against NGOs, especially those supported by the U.S. and the West, delegitimize civil society by portraying them as foreign agents.
- Arrests and detentions of activists are often politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition and stifling protests. In just ten days, the government’s intensified crackdown led to 41 arrests or detentions across 17 cities, alongside a media smear campaign targeting 39 organizations and 11 international donors, including the U.S. and U.K. governments.
- The increasing influence of Russia and China over Serbia threatens democratic freedoms and weakens the ability of civil society to resist repression.
Urgent Needs for Supporting Civil Society:
- Legal reforms that provide clear protections for civil society and prevent the misuse of legal processes against activists.
- International pressure to ensure economic cooperation does not come at the cost of civil rights and freedom of expression in Serbia.
- Educational and capacity-building efforts for legal professionals to properly address SLAPPs and unlawful investigations.
- Stronger collaboration at regional and international levels to resist the growing influence of authoritarian tactics in Serbia.
- Support mechanisms like legal and financial assistance to help activists and CSOs under threat from the state’s repression.
Interested in reading more? Find the full report HERE.