Serbia Targets NGOs Amid Rising Tensions and Protests

In a response to anti-government protests, Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic has ordered police raids on NGOs associated with U.S.A.I.D., escalating tensions and raising alarms about press freedom and civic liberties.

In reaction to escalating student-led protests that have gripped the country, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has launched a crackdown on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that he accuses of instigating dissent through foreign funding. The protests have aligned against the government's perceived corruption and substandard adherence to democratic norms.

With an eye on the unrest, Vucic has resorted to familiar tactics: targeting organizations that challenge his administration's narrative. However, the situation has recently escalated, resembling moves observed during the Trump administration's criticisms of U.S.A.I.D. On February 25, Serbian police executed unannounced raids on four NGOs, many agents heavily armed and without warrants.

Among the organizations targeted, the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability reported that officers confiscated around 8,500 pages of documentation, while Civic Initiatives disclosed that they turned over 1,300 pages of sensitive material, including private information on staff and financial records. Notably, while three of the groups had received funding from U.S.A.I.D., the fourth had no ties to the American agency.

This crackdown has raised significant concerns among civil rights advocates, warning of an increasing pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing criticism and stifling civic engagement in Serbia's shrinking democratic space.