Media Freedom Coalition Urges European Media Outlets To Report on Freedom Fighting in Serbia

Media coalition BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV/MO)

Serbia’s Coalition for Media Freedom on Dec. 19 called on media outlets across Europe to deploy their reports to Serbia and obtain first-hand information about “the struggle for freedom of Serbian citizens against the autocratic regime of Aleksandar Vucic.” 

“We urge you to inform the public in your countries about the events unfolding in Serbia, as well as the actions of certain high-ranking officials from European states who persistently support a small Balkan tyrant who is oppressing his own citizens and has effectively hijacked the state. We do not know why they are doing this, but whatever the reason, they should be ashamed,” the Coalition for Media Freedom said in a statement. 

The coalition also mentioned the Nov. 1 tragedy, when an outdoor concrete canopy at the recently renovated Novi Sad Railway Station collapsed, killing 15 and severely injuring another two people. 

It was a state-funded refurbishment project, carried out in cooperation with Chinese companies, the statement said, adding that it had been declared confidential and kept out of the public eye, like all similar projects. 

According to the statement, the government’s response to these citizen protests,  largely led by young people, has been repression.