Stellungnahme des Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), 15.8.2025 (engl. Original)
The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) expresses grave concern over the escalation of violence during protests on 13 August 2025 across Serbia, including Novi Sad, Belgrade, Niš, Kraljevo, Čačak, Pančevo, and over 30 other towns. The demonstrations, organized under the banner “Srbijo, probudi se” by students and concerned citizens, aimed to protest prior attacks on civilians by pro-government groups and to demand accountability for the tragic incident in Novi Sad last year.
Within less than 24 hours, these protests revealed severe violations of fundamental rights. Citizens exercising their right to peaceful assembly were met with excessive use of force, including physical assaults, fireworks, bottles, and metal and wooden sticks. For the first time, members of the military special unit “Kobre” were present in public areas, with one individual firing a shot into the air. Over 60 people were injured, including civilians, military personnel, and journalists attempting to cover the events.
“We are currently witnessing how violent the Serbian police are toward demonstrators. They consistently support organized thugs of the ruling party, severely beat protesters who offer no resistance, and use strong chemical agents against people in a disproportionate manner. State officials deny any excessive use of force, manipulate the facts, but the evidence exists and we are diligently documenting it. Civic Initiatives provides assistance to all those facing police repression, arrests, and detentions, and we ensure that everyone has access to lawyers through all SOS mobile hotlines operating 24/7,” say our colleagues from Civic Initiatives.
BCSDN highlights with particular concern that journalists faced intimidation and obstruction, including denial of access to assemblies, which constitutes a direct violation of freedom of expression and the right to access information. These actions compromise transparency, undermine public oversight, and threaten democratic accountability.
Die Stellungnahme finden Sie hier.