European Democrats condemn Serbian authorities’ treatment of detained student brought to father’s funeral in chains

In a post on the X social media platform, the European Democrats wrote that Jovicic has been “vaguely accused of taking part in the August protests,” that he has been denied the right to a proper defense, and that he sees the "doors of justice closing before him."

The statement points out that Jovicic’s detention has been extended for another 30 days, “not because of guilt, but out of fear of his courage — the same courage that led him to start a hunger strike.”

It was announced in Novi Sad on Tuesday that Bogdan Jovicic, a student detained after the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) offices in that city were vandalized in August, had begun a hunger strike six days prior.

The European Democrats particularly criticized the manner in which Jovicic was taken to his father’s funeral several days ago, with chains on his legs and three police officers at his side, “as a man stripped of his dignity.”

“On the sixth day of his hunger strike, Bogdan’s frail body speaks louder than any words: of repression, of injustice, and of the deep wound inflicted on democracy,” the statement reads, adding that “this scene does not belong in Europe, but in the shadows we thought we had left behind.”

The European Democrats, whose Members of the European Parliament (EP) belong to the liberal Renew Europe group, said that their Secretary General, Sandro Gozi, will be in Belgrade on Thursday and Friday “on behalf of Bogdan and the students who remain unjustly detained.” They noted that Gozi will take part in a public debate on Thursday at 5 pm at the European House in Belgrade, where the students themselves will also speak.

The European Democratic Party previously announced that its Secretary General Gozi would participate in a public debate in Belgrade this week on the state of democracy in Serbia, its membership in the European Union (EU), and the challenges to the rule of law.

As announced earlier, Gozi will speak on Thursday at the debate titled “Serbia's European Hour: Lost Time or a New Opportunity?”, alongside representatives of civil society, youth movements, and media from Serbia.