Civil Society Resilience

The Second Basic Court in Belgrade ruled that a public statement issued by the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation - responding to the Court of Appeal's 2024 acquittal of former State Security Service officers Miroslav Kurak, Ratko Romić, and Milan Radonjić for the 1999 murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija - violated the plaintiffs' honour and reputation. The court ordered the Foundation to pay 200,000 dinars in damages to each of the three plaintiffs, plus 435,000 dinars in legal costs, totalling approximately 8,800 euros. The court disregarded the Foundation's argument that the Supreme Court had subsequently found the acquittal to have been rendered with serious procedural violations. The Foundation announced it will appeal.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk issued a statement expressing serious concern over the erosion of civic space in Serbia. He cited reports of voter intimidation, police raids on opposition premises during recent local elections, and growing pressure on independent journalists and media outlets. Türk called on Serbian authorities to guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and to conduct transparent, impartial investigations into human rights violations. The statement adds to a growing body of international scrutiny directed at democratic conditions in Serbia.

The entry of members of the Criminal Police Directorate (UKP) into the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade is a precedent that raises serious constitutional and criminal procedural questions, and calls into doubt respect for the autonomy of universities guaranteed by the Constitution.