Surdulica, a small town of around 10,000 residents in southern Serbia, has seen days of protests, police cordons and hate speech following a fatal traffic accident that triggered ethnic tensions.
The suspect in the February 9 accident a 20-year-old of Albanian ethnicity has been arrested and placed in pre-trial detention. However, demonstrations have continued, with protesters calling for a boycott of bakeries owned by his family and, in some cases, demanding the expulsion of the entire Albanian family from the town.
Police have been stationed in front of the family’s “Park” bakeries, while protests have unfolded in the city center under Serbian flags and banners reading “Justice for Rastko,” the victim who died in the crash.
Hate Speech and Calls for Expulsion
The harassment campaign was preceded by inflammatory messages shared in a local Viber group titled “Justice for Rastko.” Among its members was Serbian minister without portfolio Novica Tončev, a former mayor of Surdulica.
While Tončev told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) that he supports the protesters, he denied that the demonstrations are ethnically motivated, describing them as peaceful civic gatherings demanding accountability.
Yet messages circulated online included calls for permanent expulsion and collective punishment of the family.
Serbia’s Minister for Human and Minority Rights, Demo Beriša, condemned the targeting of the family, stating it is “unacceptable to exploit a tragedy to spread hatred, calls for expulsion, and collective punishment based on national affiliation.”
Investigation Ongoing
The Prosecutor’s Office in nearby Vladičin Han confirmed on February 19 that an investigation is underway for a serious offense against public traffic safety resulting in death. Authorities said the suspect held a Kosovo-issued driver’s license, which was confiscated at the scene.
Prosecutors announced that expert examinations will determine the cause of the accident, the vehicle’s speed, and whether timely medical assistance was provided to the victim. They emphasized that the presumption of innocence applies.
Divided Local Reactions
Despite boycott calls, the three bakeries remain open. Some residents have expressed opposition to collective blame. One employee described the owner in positive terms, while a local woman told RFE/RL that only the individual responsible should be held accountable.
Journalist Dejana Cvetković reported being verbally harassed while covering the protests, including sexually charged remarks. She said the bakery owner told her he had evacuated his family from Surdulica after their vehicle was allegedly attacked by protesters.
Police have not disclosed whether anyone has been detained in connection with attacks on the bakeries or the family.
Civil Society Condemnation
The NGO “Civil Initiatives” warned that the situation represents a campaign involving collective targeting based on national identity. Serbia’s Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Milan Antonijević, also condemned threats and hate speech, stressing that public calls for lynching, expulsion, or intimidation seriously violate equality rights and risk worsening interethnic relations.
According to Serbia’s 2022 census, only six citizens of Albanian ethnicity live in Surdulica, while more than 60,000 Albanians reside across Serbia, making them the country’s fourth-largest national minority.
The developments have drawn broader attention to the position of the Albanian minority in southern Serbia, amid ongoing concerns about discrimination and interethnic tensions.
