SERBIA: Mass protests and crackdown on civic space in Serbia
In the recent months, civic space in Serbia has come under severe attack. The repression has intensified following mass protests sparked by the tragic collapse of the newly renovated train station in Novi Sad on 1 November 2024, which claimed 15 lives and left two others seriously injured. This devastating incident exposed systemic corruption and negligence within public institutions. In response, people have taken to the streets not only to demand accountability for the tragedy but also to call for broader structural societal reforms.
Rather than listening to these legitimate expressions of grief and demands for change, the Serbian government has escalated its crackdown on civil society. Peaceful protesters have faced arbitrary arrests, surveillance, intimidation, and police violence, with the latest development being the possible use of sonic weapons against demonstrators. Civil society organisations have been subjected to smear campaigns and increasing legal and administrative harassment.
As a result of this alarming deterioration in civic space, Serbia was placed on the CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist in March 2025. CIVICUS has highlighted the rapid decline of civic space and the suppression of protest movements as key drivers of concern. Read a full briefing here.