The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, has expressed concern over the actions of Serbian authorities in response to protests against President Aleksandar Vučić’s government. O’Flaherty’s statement highlights issues related to the excessive use of force and arbitrary arrests, including the detention of minors and the number of students facing criminal charges or requiring medical attention.
Recent weeks have seen an escalation in the Serbian police force’s methods, as they attempt to disperse street blockades and manage protests calling for immediate parliamentary elections. These protests, originating after a tragic railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad that resulted in 16 fatalities, have continued with significant public participation. Protesters have engaged in silent blockades, gathering at the exact time of day when the incident took place.
Serbian police efforts to clear these gatherings have met with backlash due to the reported use of shields and batons, resulting in several injuries and further detentions, leading the human rights watchdog to denounce these strategies. President Vučić, whose term runs until 2027, has dismissed the protests as foreign-influenced threats, maintaining support for Serbia’s security forces while opposing demands for early elections.
As scrutiny from the European Union (EU) increases, the student-led dissent exemplifies a larger conflict concerning governance and human rights in Serbia. Experts suggest that continued repression could impact Serbia’s EU accession process, which formally commenced in 2012. This situation might also reinvigorate both domestic and international calls for electoral and institutional reforms within Serbia.