More than a year after the events that caused serious concern among a large number of citizens, Serbia still lacks findings that enjoy the confidence of a significant portion of the public. Instead of an independent and credible investigation, we have witnessed contradictory statements by different government officials, campaigns targeting organizations that collected citizens’ testimonies, and attempts to shift attention away from the events themselves toward those who have sought and continue to seek answers.
For this reason, we believe that the call submitted by a broad coalition of civil society organizations to the relevant United Nations mechanisms should not be interpreted as an expression of distrust toward the Republic of Serbia. Rather, it is a consequence of the serious erosion of public confidence in the ability of domestic institutions to independently, impartially, and credibly establish the facts surrounding a matter of exceptional public importance. We are deeply convinced that this civil society initiative is not the cause of the crisis of trust in institutions, but rather its consequence.
The President of the Republic has repeatedly stated that Serbia has nothing to hide and that any international institution is welcome to examine the allegations regarding the use of a sonic device. If this indeed reflects the position of the Serbian authorities, there should be no reason to reject a request for a United Nations-led international investigation. On the contrary, an independent investigation would provide an opportunity to dispel all doubts and restore public confidence in the established facts.
It is particularly important to recall that the United Nations is an organization of which the Republic of Serbia is a member and whose human rights mechanisms Serbia recognizes and engages with as part of its international commitments. Turning to the United Nations is therefore not an act directed against the Serbian state, but rather the legitimate use of international mechanisms specifically designed for situations in which serious doubts exist, or where public confidence in the ability of domestic institutions to resolve disputed issues has been profoundly undermined.
This case is also of particular relevance to Serbia’s European integration process. At stake is the capacity of institutions to ensure accountability, protect fundamental rights, and conduct investigations that enjoy public trust. Where such trust is absent, international mechanisms become a legitimate and necessary instrument for establishing the facts.
At the same time, we are deeply concerned by attempts to discredit organizations and individuals, including members of the National Convention on the European Union, that have documented citizens’ testimonies, engaged available international human rights protection mechanisms, and provided legal and medical assistance to affected citizens.
Such an approach further deepens the crisis of confidence in institutions, narrows the space for civil society action, and sends a troubling message that the problem lies not in the circumstances requiring investigation, but in those who insist that the investigation take place. This is incompatible with the principles of the rule of law, human rights protection, and democratic accountability that form the foundation of both the European Union and the United Nations.
For this reason, we call upon the relevant institutions of the European Union to closely monitor not only the ongoing efforts of the National Assembly to address the consequences of the so-called “Mrdić laws”, but also attempts to instrumentalize prosecutorial institutions for the purpose of constructing cases against critics and opponents of the authorities. We urge the European Union to stand in support of all democratic actors in Serbian society who continue to advocate for accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights.
