Serbia - June 2024

On 27 June, Minister of Interior Ivica Dačić announced the ban of the ‘Mirëdita, Dobar Dan!’ cultural exchange festival, citing security concerns just hours before it was set to begin. Organized by the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Belgrade, the festival aims to promote regional cooperation and peace-building. Despite controversy over recognizing Kosovo's independence and calls for cancellation by top Serbian officials, the festival has been held annually since 2014, with growing attendance each year. About 50 men blocked the festival entrance, vowing not to leave until it was cancelled. Organizers and journalists from Kosovo were held by police for hours and were told to return to Kosovo. Civil society and journalists accused authorities of creating a hostile environment, and Civil Rights Defenders called the ban a severe infringement on freedom of expression and assembly.

Sources: Nedeljne informativne novine (1), Nedeljne informativne novine (2), Balkan Insight, Al Jazeera Balkans, Civil Rights Defenders, Koha, Kosovo Online