Attacks on journalists, delayed and inefficient war crimes prosecutions, a flawed asylum system, and intolerance and violence against LGBT people remained significant concerns in Serbia in 2024, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in its latest report.
The state response to protests and criticism of planned lithium mining in July and August highlighted weakness in the rule of law, with arrests of activists and smear campaigns against independent media outlets by state media.
In the section of the report focusing on freedom of media, HRW said that independent journalists were subjected to assaults, threats, including death threats and smearing by pro-government media outlets and high-ranking public officials.
Between January and September, the Independent Journalists’ Association recorded 108 incidents against journalists and media outlets, of which 8 were physical attacks, 2 were attacks on property, and 55 involved threats, intimidation and harassment.
In March, the two heads of the Vojvodina Association of Independent Journalists, Dinko Gruhonjic and Ana Lalic Hegedis, were subject to threats and intimidation.
In February, N1 Belgrade newsroom reported several death threats against its editorial staff to authorities, reads the report, adding that N1 Belgrade has received countless threats, including death threats, over the past decade, only a few of which have been prosecuted.
During the year, there was a surge in so-called SLAPP cases against journalists.
Regarding prosecution of war crimes, between January and August, the War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office launched seven new war crimes investigations involving eight suspects, and three against unknown perpetrators.
HRW said the asylum system remained flawed, with asylum seekers facing difficulties accessing procedures, low recognition rates, and long delays.
Between January and August, Serbia granted refugee status or subsidiary protection to only two people.
Serbia granted temporary protection to 880, all from Ukraine.
The report said that LGBT people continued to face intolerance, threats, and violence.
Between January and September, Da Se Zna! recorded 82 incidents of hate motivated incidents against LGBT people, including 28 physical attacks.
The Belgrade Pride march took place without incident in September, said the HRW in its report.
Source: N1
