CIVICUS discusses the authorities’ response to recent anti-government protests in Serbia with Ivan Đurić, Policy Analyst at the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability, an independent, non-partisan civil society organisation committed to developing democratic culture and civic activism.
Since June, authorities have made over 500 arrests at largely peaceful protests and blockades across Serbia, raising concerns about state repression, police violence and judicial independence. Although most people face minor charges and are released shortly after arrest, several students remain in pretrial detention facing severe accusations. There is a systematic pattern of excessive police force, illegal surveillance and abductions by plainclothes officers. President Aleksandar Vučić’s inflammatory rhetoric and threats against political opponents have further escalated tensions.
