The civic initiative “Belgrade Stays” (Beograd ostaje) has issued a strong statement denouncing President Aleksandar Vučić’s regime for its systematic assault on independent media and free expression in Serbia.
According to the statement, the Vučić government has evolved from subtle censorship to open repression, targeting independent outlets such as N1, Nova, Danas, Radar, and Radio Free Europe (RSE).
“Aleksandar Vučić has returned to his default settings — the same as when he was Minister of Information in the late 1990s, directly responsible for shutting down media and suppressing press freedom. Let us not forget the journalists murdered during that era,” the statement reads.
The organization condemned the recent remarks of Information Minister Boris Bratina, who called for the shutdown of N1, Nova, and RSE, claiming they “should not exist in our broadcast space.”
“Today’s Information Minister is merely quoting his boss — whether in 1998 or 2025, it makes no difference,” Belgrade Stays declared.
The group expressed strong solidarity with the independent editorial teams of these outlets, emphasizing that the attack on free journalism is an attack on democracy itself.
“We call on the public, civil society, and all democratic institutions to defend these media outlets and send a clear message: free speech cannot and will not be silenced,” the organization stated.
In conclusion, Belgrade Stays urged support for initiatives aimed at protecting media independence from political capture, adding that journalists who continue to report professionally under immense pressure represent “the last defense line of truth in Serbia.”
