Letter of support to Serbian students from scientists across the world

“As scholars dedicated to the study of democracy, we are deeply concerned about the implications for Serbia’s future following the continued repression of the students’ movement emerging in the aftermath of the tragic Novi Sad railway station collapse. We condemn the brutal response by security forces against peaceful student protesters, call for the restoration of Serbian democracy, and demand full transparency regarding the corruption that led to the collapse of the canopy in the railway station of Novi Sad that killed 16 people,” the letter said.

It warned that the Serbian authorities under President Aleksandar Vučić systematically eroded democratic institutions and created a virtual information monopoly with mass irregularities at elections.

“We call on the European Union to condition Serbia’s accession negotiations on tangible progress in safeguarding and upholding fundamental rights and values—most notably the rule of law, freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and the autonomy of universities—while ensuring accountability for those responsible for the recent violence,” the letter said.