Urgent: End the Political Persecution of Activists from the STAV Youth Group and Members of the PSG

On Friday, March 14, activist and student Lazar Dinić was arrested in Belgrade, while in Novi Sad, members of the Free Citizens Movement (PSG) were detained: Lado Jovović, Marija Vasić, Davor Stefanović, Srđan Đurić, and Mladen Cvijetić. On March 16, the Higher Court in Novi Sad ordered a 30-day detention for these six individuals, and today, searches were carried out at the apartments of activists who are currently out of the country.

The arrests followed the release of an audio recording made by eavesdropping on a meeting attended by members of the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG), as well as activists from the STAV group. According to information received from the attorney of the arrested individuals, the recording was made by the Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA), and the order was signed by the president of the Higher Court in Belgrade. The attorney did not have access to the contents of the order, he only obtained the information that it exists.

Before the matter reached the judicial authorities, the recording was leaked to the media, which immediately ‘declared’ it as terrorism and an attempt to overthrow the state—a claim that was later echoed by the highest officials of the Republic of Serbia. The state has no right to misuse security agencies for covert eavesdropping with the aim of politically persecuting individuals.

The recording was made on Wednesday, March 12, just ahead of the largest protest scheduled for March 15. It was released to intimidate citizens planning to attend the protest.

The day after the eavesdropping operation, six activists from the STAV group in Novi Sad traveled to Dubrovnik in the early hours to take part in the “ZNA DU” festival, which featured many prominent figures from Croatia’s cultural and public life, as well as from the wider region. None of them were stopped or detained while leaving the country, even though the authorities already possessed the disputed audio recording.

Members of this group have been subjected to countless severe threats, including death and rape threats. In the preliminary investigation, the group is charged with attempting to overthrow the constitutional order. Such a charge is unacceptable, as the group has not taken any action to bring the disputed conversation into reality.

We call on all international organizations and institutions dedicated to protecting citizens to stand up in defense of the young activists from Serbia, who are currently facing the most brutal politically motivated media and judicial persecution.

Signatories of the statement:

1. Civic Initiatives
2. Humanitarian Law Center
3. Youth Initiative for Human Rights (YIHR)
4. Association KROKODIL
5. Belgrade Center for Security Policy
6. Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society
7. Vojvodina Civic Centre
8. Centre E8
9. Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation
10. Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM)
11. Women in Black
12. Organization for Political Ecology (Polekol)
13. Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA)
14. Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute (RERI)
15. SHARE Foundation
16. Helsinki Committees for Human Rights
17. Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS)
18. Autonomous Women’s Center
19. Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV)
20. New Optimism
21. Rainbow Ignite
22. A11 Initiative
23. Civil Rights Defenders (CRD)
24. Group “COME OUT”
25. Belgrade Center for Human Rights