The Coalition for Media Freedom supports the student protests, because it is a fight for democracy, justice and freedom of speech in our society, which the current regime has brought to the very brink of collapse.
With their determined, peaceful and non-violent action, the students teach us all a lesson and show the strength of solidarity. With their actions, they not only protect their right to education, but fight for the freedom and dignity of all of us. They are an example for everyone, as well as their professors, who supported them.
We strongly condemn any form of violence or pressure on students, as well as attempts to deny their right to freedom of assembly. Serbia is a member state of the Council of Europe and this right is protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.
We believe that media freedom and freedom of speech are the basic pillars of any democratic society, and that any threat to those rights represents a serious attack on the basic values on which our social community rests.
We strongly condemn the behavior of the regime’s media, which not only do not report objectively and professionally, but constantly incite citizens against students and professors. They use tried and tested methods to target professors and students. We are convinced that the overwhelming majority of citizens, however, no longer care about the regime’s shameless propaganda. The tragedy in Novi Sad in which 15 people died and two were seriously injured is a state crime and there is no way for the regime to avoid responsibility.
The Coalition for Media Freedom,
Belgrade, December 12th, 2024
The Coalition for Media Freedom: the Association of Media, the Association of Online Media (AOM), the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Business Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press”, the Slavko Curuvija Foundation and Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media ‘Nezavisnost’