SEECheck condemns state oppression by Serbian authorities over civil organizations and fact-checkers, based on unfounded accusations.
SEECheck views Tuesday’s raids and actions against NGOs as an attack on civil society and an attempt to intimidate and silence critics not only of the Serbian government but of governments throughout the Western Balkans region and beyond.
This action was preceded by a coordinated campaign by the state-aligned tabloids targeting those who criticize the authorities and steadfastly defend democracy and media freedom.
The same tabloids that engaged in harassment of CSOs have published the news about the raid before it even happened indicating the political background and intended chilling effect of this action.
Furthermore, Chief Public Prosecutor Nenad Stefanović attempted to justify the raids by citing accusations against USAID by the US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Spokesperson Caroline Levitt, the US Department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kesha Patel, which are far from proven.
The SEECheck network calls on media organizations and the international community to demand that the Serbian government cease any further actions against CRTA, Istinomer, and other targeted organizations.
