Belgraders protest outside Central Prison demanding freedom for Marija Vasic

Students, activists and citizens held a peaceful protest on Monday outside the Central Prison in Belgrade, demanding the release of detained activist and Professor Marija Vasic.
Professor Marija Vasic and five other activists from the Students Against Authoritarian Government (STAV) and the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG) have been in custody for over two months, facing charges related to alleged plans to violently overthrow the constitutional order. After the court last week extended their detention for the third time for another 30 days, Vasic went on a hunger and thirst strike. Due to her deteriorating health condition, she was transferred last Thursday to the Central Prison hospital in Belgrade.
Demonstrators believe she is being detained without cause and are calling for her release.
“Our motivation is mutual support. We believe that in moments like these, we show what kind of community we are—that we are all in this together and should always respond for one another,” said Katarina, a student.
The family has no information about Marija Vasic’s health condition.
“The biggest issue is the moral aspect - they have no access to her or information about her well-being. This has touched all of us deeply. It evokes serious emotions, we understand how difficult this is for her family... We all hope our voices will be heard by those who need to hear them. Though, based on history, we know that institutions generally don’t respond to our voices that everyone else clearly hears, everyone except them,” Katarina said.
Danijela Nestorovic, representing the Konjarnik community, said “any one of us could be Marija”.
“We wouldn’t be here is there were justice in this country. The fact that Marija, in such poor condition, was transferred to a prison hospital has affected us all. Any one of us could be Marija and end up in prison, while others face no consequences,” she said.
“We are all Marija,” declared the crowd outside Belgrade’s Central Prison.
The protest remained peaceful. At the end of the gathering, a protest drive was announced for Tuesday, beginning at 8 pm outside the Palace of Justice in Belgrade. From there, protesters plan to deliver demands to the Serbian Government, Constitutional Court, Administrative Court, the Presidency, and Serbian state TV (RTS), following which they will assemble outside the Central Prison if Vasic is not released.
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