Over 130 European non-governmental organizations have signed a statement expressing solidarity with the people of Serbia, calling on the authorities to end the escalating repression of the anti-corruption movement.
In the statement, which was initiated by the European Civic Forum (ECF) and the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), these organizations describe the protest movement as “inspiring”, express solidarity with the struggle of the citizens of Serbia and emphasize that the repression of the movement is part of a wider trend of attacks on civil society in Europe.
It comes as the global human rights organization CIVICUS Monitor has added Serbia to its latest watch list due to concerns about civil liberties violations.
The protests, which have spread to at least 245 cities and towns and brought tens of thousands of people to the streets, are deeply rooted in Serbian society and enjoy broad support from unions, farmers, bar associations, private businesses and self-organized citizens.
The signatory organizations also criticize the European Union, claiming that the EU’s inaction has contributed to deepening the mistrust of Serbian citizens towards the European path, weakening the enlargement process as a whole and discrediting the EU’s foreign policy.
Systematic efforts to stifle critical voices
Mass protests were caused by the tragic collapse of the renovated railway station in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, in which 15 people died and two people were seriously injured. The incident exposed systemic corruption and government negligence, which is why protesters are demanding systemic changes and responsibility for the tragedy. The Government of Serbia responded to these legitimate expressions of grief and anger with increasing repression against civil society.
The scale of state violence and intimidation is deeply alarming. Dozens of attacks on protesters have been documented, including driving a vehicle into a crowd and a brutal attack on a female student by activists of the ruling party. Those who express support for the movement — students, professors, activists and independent voices — are accused of acting on behalf of foreign interests and face threats, surveillance, police interrogations and the loss of their jobs.
Authoritarian tactics
The actions of the Government of Serbia are only the latest escalation of a multi-year trend. For more than a decade, the country’s political leadership has systematically distanced it from the principles of democracy and the obligations necessary for EU integration. According to CIVICUS Monitor, the space for civil society action in Serbia is classified as “obstructed”, which further confirms the long-standing obstacles faced by those who advocate for democratization.
The signatories of the letter warn that these trends reflect authoritarian tactics, which many of them have already recognized and experienced in their countries.[1]
Read the text of the letter of solidarity!
About the European Civil Forum
The European Citizens’ Forum (ECF) is a pan-European network of almost 100 associations and non-governmental organizations in 29 European countries. Founded in 2005 by our member organizations, we have been working for two decades to protect civic space, enable citizen participation in decision-making processes and build civil dialogue for more equality, solidarity and democracy in Europe.
About the Balkan Network for the Development of Civil Society
The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) is a regional network of local organizations for the development of civil society (CSOs) from the Balkan region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey).