Over 320 associations from 27 European countries have signed a letter urging the European Union to prevent Serbia from violating human rights. The letter follows the expulsion and detention of civil activists from Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Austria, and North Macedonia who participated in the Erste Stiftung NGO Academy in Belgrade.

“These individuals were arrested overnight, interrogated without evidence, labeled ‘threats to national security,’ and banned from entering Serbia for one year,” the letter states.

A day earlier, Albania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Serbian Ambassador Slobodan Vukčević regarding the expulsion of two Albanian nationals. The Ministry demanded that such incidents not be repeated.

Gazmir Memaj from the “Mary Ward Loreto” Foundation and Edlira Lilaj from the “Help Organization” in Tirana had been in Belgrade since Tuesday to discuss “strategies for NGOs to generate income.” Serbia denied them entry for a year, along with 12 other civil society representatives from North Macedonia, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Moldova, citing them as “national security threats.”

The signatories of the letter emphasized the increased repression against Serbian civil society organizations, activists, high school students, and university students. They also pointed out that this time, the regime targeted an international group of civic activists sponsored by a respected Austrian foundation promoting regional cooperation and learning.

These actions, according to the organizations, are directed against respected professionals and international cooperation initiatives, reflecting growing hostility from the Serbian government toward civil activists and journalists.

“The repression is taking place amid mass student protests against corruption and mismanagement, which the regime is attempting to suppress by blaming foreign citizens and inciting hostility toward neighboring countries and the EU,” the letter continued, calling on Serbian authorities to clarify the unjust practices.

The 320 organizations have called on the European Union to hold Serbia accountable. “We stand in solidarity with all victims of this regime and call for a united European response to protect civil space, peace, and human rights in Serbia,” the letter concluded.

/a.p./