European Commissioner Kos calls for restraint in Serbia

European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, stated that she is closely following the situation in Serbia, including the blockade of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), and called on everyone to refrain from escalating tensions.

She expressed concern about the filing of a criminal case against the rector of the University of Belgrade, Vladan Djokic.

"The European Union is following the blockade of RTS. Public media have a responsibility to act in the best interest of the public and provide space for all legitimate positions; they have the right, like all journalists, to perform their duty without any pressure," Kos wrote on the social network X.

She said she hopes that the current situation can be resolved through constructive dialogue and a democratic spirit.

Commissioner Kos also stressed that, to overcome the political deadlock and divisions in society, Serbia needs to intensify efforts in the fight against corruption and improve reforms in the rule of law, including strengthening media pluralism and electing the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), through a transparent and inclusive process.

"These reforms are key to Serbia's progress on the European path. The EU offers support, and I plan to visit Serbia later this month to discuss this," Kos concluded.

Students continue blockade of RTS and RTV

Students from Belgrade and Novi Sad began blocking the buildings of RTS and Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV) on the evening of April 14, claiming that public media outlets are not reporting objectively on their protests.

They have stated that the blockade will continue "until a new competition for REM Council members is announced," it writes. Radio Free Europe.

Students have been protesting for months, demanding accountability for the collapse of a concrete shelter at the Novi Sad Railway Station on November 1 last year, which caused the deaths of 16 people.

They also demand the punishment of the attackers of the students during the protests that followed the tragedy and the halting of proceedings against the arrested demonstrators.

Their demands have been supported by organizations of education workers, lawyers, university professors, farmers, and a number of other citizens.

The rector of the University of Belgrade, Vladan Đokić, was questioned on April 18 as part of a preliminary investigation into the criminal offense of abuse of official position.

He is one of the rectors who has supported the demands of students who, through faculty blockades and protests throughout Serbia, are demanding responsibility for the event in Novi Sad.

On the evening of March 10, students from Belgrade and Novi Sad gathered without warning in front of public media outlets and blocked all entrances, demanding objective reporting on the protests.

RTS has previously reported that, due to difficult working conditions caused by the lockdown, it has been forced to adapt its programming schedule, and a criminal complaint has been filed with the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade against unknown persons, seeking the reaction of international institutions.