Joint Statement: Stop the Repression and Free the Political Prisoners

We demand that the authorities stop the repression against citizens, activists, and opposition figures who are seeking criminal accountability for the deaths of 15 citizens following the collapse of the roof 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 years, we have been warning about the rise of violence in our society and devastating consequences of 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 immediately hold a press conference and provide the public with all the relevant information. We also demand that the Higher Court and the Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad release all citizens who have been unjustly detained, allowing them to defend themselves in freedom, and that all perpetrators of violence from the November 5th protests are fairly prosecuted, including those responsible in the police who allowed violence against public and private property and 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.

1. Youth Initiative for Human Rights
2. CRTA
3. Belgrade Center for Security Policy
4. Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
5. Slavko Curuvija Foundation
6. Civic Initiatives
7. Share Foundation
8. Partners Serbia
9. Belgrade Center for Human RIghts
10. Humanitarian Law Center
11. Catalyst Balkans
12. Independent Journalist Association of Serbia
13. New Optimism
14. Autonomous Women’s Center
15. BIRODI
16. YUCOM
17. European Movement in Serbia
18. Theatre of Change
19. Institute for European Affairs
20. CEPRIS – Judicial Research Center
21. Centre for Contemporary Politics
22. Center for Cultural Decontamination
23. Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute
24. Assosation “I wonder” Leskovac
25. ISAC Fund
26. Trag Foundation
27. Jelena Šantić Foundation