Belgrade/Ljubljana/Brussels – On Tuesday evening, Serbian police expelled several activists from Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. According to the Slovenian ministry, one of the expelled individuals was a Slovenian citizen. The European Commission has voiced its concerns regarding the incident.
The activists were detained and subsequently expelled while attending a workshop for non-governmental organizations organized by the Erste Foundation in Belgrade. A report from the Serbian portal Autonomija.info indicated that a total of 13 individuals were expelled and all received a one-year ban from entering Serbia.
The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed to STA that one Slovenian citizen was among those interrogated and expelled. The ministry stated that the Slovenian Embassy in Belgrade, alongside representatives from other EU member states involved, will gather information about the event and assess the situation to determine if further action is required within their authority.
The European Commission expressed its concern over the arrest and expulsion of peaceful civil society activists from EU member states and the Western Balkans, underscoring the vital role that civil society plays in fostering a healthy and democratic society.
These principles are fundamental not only to the EU but also to the future of Serbia as a candidate country and its citizens, the Commission emphasized.
The expulsion of the activists coincided with student protests following a tragic incident in November when the roof of the Novi Sad railway station collapsed, resulting in 15 fatalities. Serbian authorities have attributed foreign influences as a contributing factor to the protests. (January 23)
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