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Reactions after Serbia expels 13 civil society activists, including Albanians

Reactions after Serbia expels 13 civil society activists, including Albanians

Serbia has expelled 13 foreign nationals who were participating in workshops for non-governmental organizations from nine different countries.

Authorities in Belgrade detained and then expelled them on the night of January 21-22, stating that they posed a "threat to security."

Among them were two Albanian citizens.


The Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Information and Security Agency have not responded to Radio Free Europe's questions about what specific threat the deported persons posed.

The Erste Foundation, which is among the organizers of the workshop, in a response to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said that on January 21, late in the evening, Serbian authorities interrogated 13 participants from nine countries, after which they were banned from entering Serbia for one year.

This foundation emphasized that neither they nor the Academy for Non-Governmental Organizations of the Vienna University of Economics and Business have been informed of the reasons for the expulsion.

"This incident is extremely concerning. Together with our partners, we continue to closely monitor the situation. We deeply regret that the participants of our workshops had to go through such an experience and reiterate our commitment to civil society in Central and Eastern Europe," the Erste Foundation said in a statement.

This foundation said that their programs have been organized since 2013, some of them have been in Belgrade and have been held without any problems.

Reactions from the EU, Albania and countries in the region
The European Union has expressed concern about this event, calling on Serbia to respect human rights, according to European and international standards.

"We are concerned about the arrest and expulsion from Serbia of peaceful civil society activists coming from EU member states and the Western Balkans region, on the grounds that they pose a security threat. Civil society plays an important role in building a healthy democratic society. These are values ​​at the foundation not only of the EU, but are also key for the future of Serbia as a candidate country and for its citizens," a European Commission spokesperson said in Brussels.

The European bloc instructed Serbia that the measures it takes in the interest of national security must be in accordance with the domestic and European legal framework.

"Such measures should not result in the restriction of individual freedoms, including that of foreign citizens," the EU said.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania has confirmed that two Albanian citizens, representatives of civil society who were participating in the event in Belgrade, were detained and subsequently expelled from Serbia.

For this event, this ministry has invited the Serbian ambassador to Tirana, Slobodan Vukcevic, to a conversation.

During the meeting, serious concern was expressed about the deportation of two Albanian citizens, the Albanian Foreign Ministry said.

"This action is not considered in line with our desire and efforts to maintain good neighborly relations, and has a negative impact on the free movement of our citizens. The MEPJ requested clarifications regarding this case and stressed the need for the Serbian authorities to review and consider appealing the decisions taken. It was also requested that such events not be allowed to repeat in the future," the Albanian ministry said in a response.

The two young men, representatives of two organizations in Tirana, told Albanian media that they were stopped by Serbian police as they were returning to the hotel where they had been staying during the workshop. They said they were escorted to the police station where they were given a document, written in Serbian, and informed that they must leave the country immediately and cannot enter Serbia for a year.

Croatia has also reacted to the incident, saying that five of its citizens were expelled from Serbia. Zagreb said they were the target of attacks by Serbian government officials and media outlets close to them, who accuse students, journalists and activists from Croatia of organizing protests in Serbia.

Croatia has sent a note of protest to Serbia and advised its citizens to avoid traveling to this country.

But Serbia's Foreign Ministry has accused Croatian authorities of an "inadequate" reaction, stating that Croatian citizens were treated "in accordance with legal procedures and customary international practice."

Ana Kovačić from Croatia was one of the participants in the Belgrade event who was expelled from Serbia.

In a conversation with Radio Free Europe, she said that around midnight on January 21, police approached her in the hotel lobby.

"They were in civilian clothes, they showed us their badges. They said something, if I remember correctly, to the effect that they were the police for foreigners, and asked us to wait for a while in the lobby. Then they took us three by three, in an unmarked car, and took us to the Novi Beograd police station," she said.

Reactions to the expulsions also came from Romania. The Romanian Foreign Ministry also said that one of its citizens, a member of civil society, was expelled from Serbia after participating in the event in Belgrade. The ministry said that Serbian authorities have not provided an explanation for this event.

Meanwhile, a group of non-governmental organizations in Serbia, through a joint statement, demanded that the state seek compensation from the families of civil society representatives who were arrested and deported "and immediately repeal the shameful decision" of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"The cowardly, illegal and despicable treatment of civil sector colleagues from neighboring countries is a dangerous attempt to strengthen the narrative of foreign agents, mercenaries and secret services, with the aim of intimidating the citizens of Serbia," the statement said.

The expulsions of foreign nationals from Serbia came at a time when the country is facing massive anti-government protests led by students, who have blocked more than 60 state universities.

Senior state officials, without providing evidence, have claimed that student blockades and protests are being organized under the influence of Western intelligence services, with the aim of ousting Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić from power.

The protesting students have consistently denied these claims.