The CIVICUS Monitor downgraded Serbia’s civic space from “Obstructed” to “Repressed” in its 2025 annual report, citing escalating attacks on fundamental freedoms. Authorities have clamped down on protests, leading to violence and mass detentions, while freedom of expression is under sustained attack. Civil society warns that a proposed Criminal Code amendment threatens to criminalize peaceful assembly. The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) is urging the EU to leverage the accession process to protect civic space and ensure accountability. Read more here.
Source and photo credit: CIVICUS Monitor
