More than 500 in Academic Community Sign Declaration Supporting Domestic NGOs

Special Education for NGO Sector and Independent Media

In less than two days, more than 500 members of the Serbian academic community signed a declaration in support of the domestic non-governmental organizations whose premises have been raided by the police, and warned that this step led to the undermining of constitutional rights and liberties.

The signatories of the declaration, initiated on Feb. 25, have stated in comment of the police raids that they “most adamantly condemn the latest and most drastic attack on the freedom of expression in Serbia.” “The raid by the crime police of the premises of several civil associations, carried out on the orders of the Higher Public Prosecution, represents one more step in the years-long campaign of intimidation and stifling of civil activism, which leads to the undermining of constitutionally guaranteed rights and liberties,” it was stated in the declaration.

Members of the academic community stated that “a particular cause for concern is the selectivity in the work of the Higher Public Prosecution, which bases its actions and suspicions of crimes, such as the possible money laundering and misappropriation of funds, on vague political messages from abroad” about the work of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

“This precedent additionally undermines the citizens’ already deteriorating confidence in the institutions and the principle of the rule of law. We express our full solidarity and support to the civil associations that have been directly affected by such actions, and to all organizations that suffer pressure for advocating democratic values and the public interest,” the declaration reads.