Attack on Our Colleague Jelena Jovanović – Part of an Organised Campaign of Intimidation by the Regime

As a parent, like many other citizens, Jelena participated in the protest within the legally permitted and constitutionally protected right to freedom of assembly. She protested in her local community, where her children attend school, to support educators. Instead of respecting her civic right to express her opinion, the government-controlled media have used their platforms to intimidate and discredit her.

This is not journalism – this is a state-sponsored campaign of persecution. The goal is to intimidate activists and civil society organisations, discredit them, and turn public opinion against them to silence their voices. These attacks are part of a broader strategy to shrink democratic space in Serbia and criminalise all forms of civic activism.

It is clear that such methods aim to intimidate all those who stand for the rule of law, freedom of speech, and fundamental human rights. Attacks on activists come at a time when the government is using the Draft Law on Foreign Agents as a tool to criminalise civil society, pushing Serbia further down the path of authoritarian regimes.

We remind the public that this is not an isolated case – similar smear campaigns have been conducted against numerous activists and organisations that fight for democratic values in Serbia. This is a systemic attempt to eliminate critical thinking and suppress all forms of resistance to the regime.

We call on the domestic and international public, as well as EU institutions, to condemn these methods and protect those who defend fundamental democratic rights. Attacks on activists cannot go unanswered. Freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly must be protected!