Activists under house arrest: protests in Novi Sad reach peak!

Activists under house arrest: protests in Novi Sad reach peak!

In Serbia, three more activists from the opposition Free Citizens Movement (PSG) were placed under house arrest on Wednesday oe24 reported. The decision by the Novi Sad Court of Appeal follows a similar measure last week, which also affected sociology professor Marija Vasić, who has been on hunger strike since May 13.

The activists, including Vasić, were arrested in mid-March, shortly before a planned large student protest took place in Belgrade. They are accused of having secret conversations in the PSG offices in which activities against the state order were allegedly planned. This is based on secret audio recordings from the Serbian intelligence service BIA, which can result in legal consequences ranging from long prison sentences to more serious charges.

Protests and reactions

The court decision, which came down today, was accompanied by intense protests by students who demonstrated around the clock in front of the court in Novi Sad. This situation is part of a larger picture of political unrest in Serbia, where social tensions and state repression have been increasing significantly in recent months.

Vasić and the other activists under house arrest continue to fight for their rights. Marija Vasić has now had to be taken to a prison hospital in Belgrade because her health is at risk due to the hunger strike. At the same time, three other imprisoned PSG members are waiting for a court decision about their further whereabouts.

Context and social climate in Serbia

Serbia has recently faced various challenges. While the country continues to strive to join the EU, it maintains close political and economic ties with Russia. In addition, public allegations of corruption against public officials are widespread, further increasing political instability. An agreement to normalize diplomatic relations between Serbia and Kosovo was reached under EU mediation in March 2023, but there have also been escalations, such as the deadly incident in September in which a Kosovo police officer died.

In addition, there were two shooting sprees in May 2023, in which a total of 17 people were killed and 21 others were injured. The shock of these acts of violence led to protest marches by the “Serbia Against Violence” alliance, which demanded accountability from state institutions. In the December 17, 2023 elections, Serbia's ruling SNS (Serbian Progressive Party) won a majority, but international observers documented significant irregularities and many citizens are calling for the election results to be annulled, Amnesty International notes in its 2023 Serbia report. Amnesty highlights, in this context, the need to uphold human rights and respect political freedoms.