Judges, prosecutors, lawyers and citizens gathered in central Belgrade on Saturday for a protest titled “Marš za pravosuđe” (March for Justice), voicing opposition to recently adopted judicial laws that critics say threaten the independence of the judiciary and the autonomy of prosecutors.
The protest was organized by several professional groups, including the Sindikat sudske vlasti, the Udruženje tužilaca Srbije, the initiative Odbrana struke, and the Centar za pravosudna istraživanja CEPRIS.
Participants initially gathered near the former General Staff building before marching to the headquarters of the Tužilaštvo za organizovani kriminal. There, demonstrators held 16 minutes of silence in memory of the 16 victims of the Novi Sad canopy collapse, a tragedy that has sparked widespread public anger and protests across the country in recent months.
During the rally, several members of the judiciary addressed the crowd, warning that the newly adopted laws were passed without proper public debate and consultation with judges, prosecutors, or international bodies such as the Venice Commission and the European Union. Protesters also carried Serbian and EU flags, reflecting broader concerns about the country’s democratic standards and its path toward European integration.
According to critics within the legal community, the amendments could place the judiciary under stronger influence from the executive branch. The laws were adopted by Serbia’s parliament in January following a proposal from a lawmaker of the ruling party, and they were later signed by President Aleksandar Vučić, a move that drew criticism from officials in Brussels who described it as a serious step backward on Serbia’s EU path.
Legal institutions, including the High Judicial Council, the High Prosecutorial Council and bar associations, have also voiced concerns that the legislation could undermine judicial independence. In recent weeks, lawyers in the northern province of Vojvodina staged a one-day strike, while protests have been held in multiple cities demanding the withdrawal of the amendments.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s justice minister Nenad Vujić said the government would be ready to consider possible corrections to the new laws if the Venice Commission raises substantive objections.
