The intensifying crackdown on the “Students in Blockade” movement in Serbia is a critical challenge to the enabling environment for civil society. What began as a demand for accountability following a tragic infrastructure collapse has evolved into a nationwide protest for democracy and transparency. However, UN experts report that the Serbian government is responding with unlawful surveillance, intimidation, physical attacks, and arrests of students and activists. This repressive response, which also targets professors and civil society actors, not only violates human rights but also severely undermines the ability of citizens to demand accountability from their government. The use of plainclothes officers and state-aligned media smear campaigns further erodes trust and creates a hostile environment for free expression and civic engagement. Read more here.
Source: OHCHR