Italian pianist expelled from Serbia for performing at student protest

Martello was escorted by the police out of the country, having entered through the Gradina border crossing between Serbia and Bulgaria on April 4.

In their decision to cancel Martello’s short-term stay in Serbia, the police said that he entered the country on April 4 as a tourist, but that there is reasonable suspicion that he “will not use his stay for the stated purpose.” The pianist has been banned from entering Serbia for one year.

“A one-year entry ban is usually imposed for more serious offenses or criminal acts committed by a foreign national in Serbia. It is a poor practice to punish support for people fighting for their rights through music and art, especially when that expression of freedom of speech occurs nonviolently in public spaces,” said Maja Kamenov from the Committee for Human Rights.