Civil society and media will not give up the fight for a democratic and free Serbia

IJAS •︎ 29/07/2020

Civil society and media will not give up the fight for a democratic and free Serbia

The media and civil society organizations demand from the Ministry of Finance and the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering to immediately present the grounds for suspicion due to which they ordered the extraordinary collection of information about organizations, media, and individuals from the commercial banks. The article of the law, referred to by the director of the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering, states that such inspection should be performed exclusively for organizations for which there are grounds for suspicion of their involvement in the financing of terrorism. Since the list includes numerous organizations and individuals dealing with investigative journalism, protection of human rights, transparency, film production, development of democracy, rule of law and philanthropy, the conclusion is that this is a political abuse of institutions and a dangerous attempt to further collapse the rule of law in Serbia.

The abuse of legal mechanisms and institutions to unlawfully put pressure on the media and civil society organizations is a drastic attack on freedom of association and freedom of information. For years, the government in Serbia has been facing serious criticism from both international and domestic organizations regarding the threat to these two important freedoms. Such an attack on organizations that advocate for establishing Serbia as a state governed by the rule of law with respect for the law and a genuine fight against corruption, is an additional argument that these values are seriously endangered in Serbia. Organizations, media and citizens will not give up the fight for a free and democratic state, regardless of threats and pressures. Such and similar moves by the authorities only further motivate us as citizens to persevere in the defense of our own country.

The media and organizations will take all appropriate legal actions against those involved in this abuse, including the prosecution of those responsible, but above all they will insist on complete and clear answers on how this could have happened. We remind the public that the organizations and media from the list are subject to various types of regular state control, including inspections and rigorous checks of financial operations by the Tax Administration and the National Bank of Serbia, as well as by their own donors. Any legal inspection of the work of organizations is welcome and we will always support it. On the other hand, we will fiercely oppose the abuse of institutions and procedures, because that is our mission – the fight for a democratic and legal state.

Signatories:

 

  1. A1 Novi Pazar
  2. Academy of Women’s Leadership
  3. Alternative Girls’ Center
  4. Dr Srećko Djukić, Forum for International Relations of the European Movement in Serbia (FMO)
  5. Andja Jocic
  6. Anja Andjusic, FM
  7. AS – Center for Empowerment of Young People Living with HIV and AIDS
  8. Association “Kutija”, Nis
  9. Association Fenomena
  10. Association of Citizens “NE-BO”, Negotin
  11. Association of Independent Electronic Media – ANEM
  12. Association of parents and children Brodić Parkić
  13. Association Stara planina Pirot
  14. Association Voice of Citizens of Šumadija, Kragujevac
  15. Associations Film Club Prokuplje
  16. ASTRA – Anti Trafficking Action
  17. Autonomous Women’s Center
  18. Becej Youth Association
  19. BeFem
  20. Belgrade Center for Human Rights
  21. Belgrade Center for Security Policy
  22. Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence
  23. Belgrade Open School
  24. Beta News agency
  25. BIRN
  26. BIRODI
  27. Boom93
  28. Borivoj Stajić
  29. Branko Vuckovic, a journalist from Kragujevac
  30. Business Association of Local and Independent Media Association “Lokal Press”
  31. CANVAS
  32. Catalyst Balkans Foundation
  33. Center for Democracy and Development of Southern Serbia
  34. Center for Democracy Foundation
  35. Center for Development of Serbia
  36. Center for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities in Serbia
  37. Center for Local Media Development
  38. Center for moms, Belgrade
  39. Center for Nonviolent Action
  40. Center for Policy Research
  41. Center for Policy Research Argument
  42. Center for Protection, Education and Empowerment of Refugees Info Park
  43. Center for Regionalism Novi Sad
  44. Center for Social Policy, Belgrade
  45. Center for the Advancement of Society
  46. Center for Women’s Studies
  47. Centre Living Upright
  48. Centre of Modern Skills
  49. CeSID
  50. Chil Rights Centre
  51. CINS
  52. Citizens Association for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and All Forms of Gender-Based Violence (ATINA)
  53. Citizens’ Association Institute for Corruption Research, Pancevo
  54. Citizens’ Association AIM Center
  55. City radio
  56. Civic attitude
  57. Civic Council of the City of Kraljevo
  58. Civic Initiatives
  59. Civil action Pancevo
  60. Civil Rights Defenders
  61. CK13
  62. Coalition for Solidarity Economy Development
  63. KC Grad, Belgrade
  64. Coalition PreUgovor
  65. Conceptual Policy Group, Novi Sad
  66. Consultations for lesbians
  67. CRTA
  68. Da se zna!
  69. Daca Jović, activist
  70. Daily Danas
  71. Dajana Đedović, Forum for Culture of the European Movement in Serbia (FzK)
  72. net Valjevo
  73. Djordje Popović, FMO
  74. Don’t let Belgrade d(r)own
  75. Dr Ljubomir Jacic
  76. Dr Aleksandra Bosnić Đurić, cultural scientist
  77. Dr Milorad Đurić, political scientist
  78. Dr Sonja Avlijaš, FzK
  79. Dragan Srećković
  80. Drug Policy Network in South East Europe
  81. Duga Association
  82. Educational Center Krusevac
  83. Environment Engineering group
  84. Eurocontact, Krusevac
  85. European Movement in Serbia
  86. European Movement in Serbia Leskovac
  87. European Movement Valjevo (Slavica and Vladimir Pantić)
  88. European Policy Centre
  89. FemPlatz
  90. Forca Požega
  91. Foundation Ana and Vlade Divac
  92. Foundation for Freedom of the Press – Senta
  93. Foundation Pons Nis
  94. Goran Cetinic, FMO member
  95. Heart Center, Novi Sad
  96. Heartefact Fund
  97. Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
  98. Human Rights Committee Negotin
  99. Human Rights Committee Nis
  100. Human Rights Committee Valjevo
  101. Humanitarian Center Mitrovica
  102. Humanitarian Law Center
  103. Impulse – Tutin
  104. Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina
  105. Independent cultural scene of Serbia – NKSS
  106. Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS)
  107. Informal association “Za naš kej”, Belgrade
  108. Initiative A11
  109. Initiative for Požega
  110. Institute for European Affairs

 

  1. Integrity Center, Nis
  2. InTER
  3. Internet portal “Media box”, Nis
  4. ISAC Fund
  5. Ivan Medenica, FzK
  6. Ivana Jovanović, European Youth Movement Forum in Serbia (FM)
  7. Iz kruga – Vojvodina
  8. Izađi group
  9. Jasmina Borojevic
  10. Jelena Erdeljan FzK
  11. Jelena Šantić Foundation
  12. Južne vesti
  13. Kolubara District Women’s Association
  14. rs
  15. Kragujevac newspapers
  16. Kreni-Promeni Association
  17. KRIK
  18. Libek
  19. Link plus
  20. Loznica Pact
  21. Majdanpek Resource Center
  22. Media and Reform Center Nis
  23. Media Association
  24. Mesečina Foundation, Subotica
  25. Milan Antonijevic
  26. Milena Dragicevic Sesic (FzK)
  27. Milena Stefanovic European Fund for the Balkans
  28. Milivoj Bešlin, FMO
  29. MillenniuM
  30. National Coalition for Decentralization
  31. National Convention on the European Union
  32. National Youth Council of Serbia
  33. Nedim Sejdinović, journalist
  34. Nenad Šebek, Media and CSO Consultant
  35. Network of Human Rights Committees in Serbia CHRIS
  36. Network of the European Movement in Serbia
  37. B92 Fund
  38. New Economy
  39. New Media Center kuda.org, Novi Sad
  40. New optimism
  41. New Solidarity Network
  42. NGO Aktiv
  43. NGO Center for the Development of Liberalism
  44. NON-ALIGNED FILMS
  45. Non-Smoking Educational Center Association _ RP
  46. Novi Sad Humanitarian Center
  47. Novi Sad Open Club
  48. Novi Sad School of Journalism
  49. Obrenovac Youth Foundation
  50. Online Media Association
  51. Open Society Foundation
  52. Optimist, Bosilegrad
  53. Partners Serbia
  54. PATOS, Smederevo
  55. People’s Parliament Leskovac
  56. Peščanik
  57. Podrinje Anti-Corruption Team Pact
  58. Policy Center
  59. Portal SEEcult.org
  60. Proaktiv
  61. Dr. Vojin Rakic
  62. Propulsion Fund
  63. Protecta
  64. Radio Sto Plus Novi Pazar
  65. Radio Zlatousti
  66. Ravangrad Citizens’ Association
  67. Reconstruction Women’s Fund
  68. Regional Information Agency JUGpress
  69. Re-Kraft
  70. Remark DPCM
  71. RERI
  72. Res Publica Kragujevac
  73. Roma Center Kragujevac
  74. Roma World, Nis
  75. Romani Cikna
  76. Sandzak Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms
  77. Sanja Ivačić, FMO
  78. Slavica Milojevic
  79. Slavica Ranisavljev Kovacev, Novi Sad
  80. Slavica Stojanović
  81. Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation
  82. Slobodan Georgiev
  83. Smart collective
  84. Society for Adult Education
  85. org
  86. SOS Women’s Center Novi Sad
  87. Streets for cyclists, Belgrade
  88. Students for Liberty – Serbia
  89. Tamara Spasojevic
  90. The Lawyers’ Committee For Human Rights (YUCOM)
  91. The movement of the citizens of Novi Sad
  92. Tijana Jurić Foundation
  93. Timok Youth Center – TOC, Zajecar
  94. Trag Foundation
  95. Transparency Serbia
  96. UG Center for Civil Values from Subotica
  97. United Trade Unions of Serbia Sloga
  98. Urban In – Novi Pazar
  99. Uzice Center for Children’s Rights
  100. Uzice Center for Democracy and Human Rights
  101. Vesna Perić
  102. Victimology Society of Serbia
  103. Vladan Jovanović – independent regional consultant in the field of social protection, children’s rights, human and minority rights
  104. Vojvodina Civic Center
  105. Vojvodina recommended
  106. Vukašin Obradović
  107. Women for Peace Leskovac
  108. Women in Black
  109. Women’s Association Peščanik Kruševac
  110. Young researchers of Serbia
  111. Youth Empowerment Club 018
  112. Youth Initiative for Human Rights
  113. Zajecar Initiative
  114. Zvezda Center, Belgrade