Since the beginning of the student protests in Serbia, we have publicly and unequivocally  supported all their demands. The loss of innocent lives in the collapse of the train station canopy  in Novi Sad on November 1st last year deeply shook us, as did the violence we are witnessing  and the actions of institutions that, instead of fulfilling their duties, are using various maneuvers  to suppress the student movement. The students have demonstrated that the movement cannot  be suppressed and that the struggle will continue until institutions begin fulfilling their mandates.  The rule of law and accountability of public officials must be the foundation of a functioning society.  However, Serbia has long ceased to be a country governed by the rule of law. 

For years, we have witnessed pressure, attacks, and intimidation campaigns against civil society  organizations, human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and citizens who dare to stand up  against corruption and abuse of institutions. We see the misuse of state security structures and  other institutions for illegal surveillance of activists and the fabrication of criminal and other legal  proceedings aimed at intimidating activists and journalists. The pressure on civil society has now  taken on an institutional form for the first time through the proposed law on a special register of  foreign influence agents, modeled after regulations in Russia and Belarus. In response to all this,  the responsible institutions remain silent and fail to perform their fundamental duty – they do not  protect citizens or the common good. 

In recent days, we have witnessed harassment, arrests, deportations, and entry bans imposed  on activists, students, and public figures from abroad. We are also seeing the targeting of citizens  with dual citizenship, while convicted war criminals publicly share students’ personal data, thereby  endangering their safety. 

We are also witnessing authorities attempting to uphold a false facade of democracy and  inclusivity in policy-making by formally involving civil society in decision-making processes.  However, regardless of how well these initiatives may appear, they are not implemented in  practice, and the standards for protecting human rights and freedoms have been in steady decline  in recent years. Citizens and civil society have no real opportunity to influence decisions regarding  projects and activities that already have or could have a negative impact on their rights, property,  health, and safety. Public spaces and services, cultural heritage, and natural resources are being  systematically taken from citizens, with the active complicity of public institutions, public servants,  and the country’s highest-ranking officials.  

Due to all the aforementioned reasons, and guided by the conviction that the rule of law  must finally prevail, we have decided to suspend our cooperation with the legislative and  executive authorities in Serbia. By cooperation, we refer to any form of membership – formal or informal – in working groups within government ministries, as well as in all other  permanent and ad hoc working groups, councils, and similar instruments of state bodies  that require our direct involvement.

We will not abandon the effort to restore institutions of the Republic of Serbia to their rightful  functions and to the citizens. We remain committed to our work and will continue to monitor all  decision-making processes, regularly inform the public about their effects, and, in the coming  period, utilize all legal, administrative, and other mechanisms available within state institutions. In  doing so, we will protect human rights, report criminal offenses and violations, highlight harmful  decisions and actions, and make use of all available mechanisms to safeguard the public interest,  human rights, freedoms, health, safety, and property of citizens, in accordance with the goals,  vision, and mission of our organizations. 

In Belgrade, 04.02.2024. 

Signatories:  

A 11 – Initiative for Economic and Social Rights 

Alternative Girls’ Center 

ASTRA – Anti-Trafficking Action 

Autonomous Women’s Center 

Belgrade Centre for Human Rights 

Belgrade Centre for Security Policy 

Center for Contemporary Politics 

Civic Initiatives 

CRTA – Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability 

European Movement in Serbia 

FemPlatz 

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights 

Humanitarian Law Center 

Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia 

Initiative for the Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities – MDRI-S 

International Aid Network – IAN  

Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – YUCOM 

Media Association 

Ministry of Space Collective 

National Coalition for Decentralization 

Online Media Association 

Partners for Democratic Change Serbia 

PIN – Psychosocial Innovation Network 

Polekol – Organization for Political Ecology 

Renewables and Environmental Regulatory Institute – RERI 

SHARE Foundation 

Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation 

Youth Initiative for Human Rights