We demand that the authorities put an end to the repression against citizens, activists, and opposition figures who are seeking criminal accountability for the deaths of 15 citizens following the roof collapse at the Railway Station in Novi Sad.
Repression against the people is growing increasingly brutal, and the highest state officials justify and encourage it. For many years, we have been highlighting the rise in violence within society and the erosion of the rule of law. Due to the ongoing lack of dialogue, citizens’ trust in institutions has been completely shattered, opening the door for violence to prevail in resolving disputes.
We demand that the Public Prosecutor’s Office call a press conference as soon as possible to provide citizens with all relevant information. Additionally, we demand that the Higher Court and the Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad release all citizens who have been unjustly detained so they can defend themselves while free. We also demand that those responsible for the violence during the November 5th protests be prosecuted fairly, including the police officers who allowed violence against both public and private property, as well as citizens.
Yesterday’s and today’s violence against Members of Parliament and local officials in front of the prosecutor’s office in Novi Sad is merely a continuation of repressive measures, which are first and foremost reflected in the unjust detention of at least nine citizens, including student Relja Stanojević, activist Ivan Bjelić, and politicians Miša Bačulov and Goran Ješić. We also remind of the intimidation of young activists from the Sviće group, such as Nikola Ristić, who was unjustly arrested on November 3rd, as well as the intimidation of female activists from the STAV group and the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Mila Pajić and Doroteja Antić, who were practically abducted and taken to the premises of the BIA by unknown individuals.
It is the duty of the institutions to guarantee the right to protest, that is, the freedom of assembly and expression, as fundamental human rights. We call on the Ombudsman of Serbia to defend citizens’ rights in all these cases and to identify the failures of state bodies.
We remain in solidarity with the democratic struggle of citizens to return the captured state to the framework of institutions. We demand freedom for all political prisoners and accountability from the authorities and state institutions.
Signatories of the joint statement:
- Youth Initiative for Human Rights
- CRTA
- Belgrade Center for Security Policy
- Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
- Slavko Curuvija Foundation
- Civic Initiatives
- Share Foundation
- Partners Serbia
- Belgrade Center for Human Rights
- Humanitarian Law Center
- Catalyst Balkans
- Independent Journalist Association of Serbia
- New Optimism
- Autonomous Women’s Center
- BIRODI
- YUCOM
- European Movement in Serbia
- Theatre of Change
- Institute for European Affairs
- CEPRIS – Judicial Research Center
- Centre for Contemporary Politics
- Center for Cultural Decontamination
- Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute