Citizens and students gathered for a fifth consecutive day in front of the Higher Court in Novi Sad on Monday, May 19th, continuing their blockade of the institution. The blockade began on Wednesday, May 15th, following the decision to extend the detention of six activists and students who have been held for over two months on suspicion of attempting to undermine the constitutional order.
The blockade, initiated by students and joined by concerned citizens and activists, persisted throughout the weekend. As in the initial days, a steady stream of people arrived at the courthouse early Monday morning, while police remained stationed outside the building’s entrances.
All entrances to the Higher Court remain blocked, and organizers have vowed to maintain their presence until the detained activists are released.
Students reiterated their call for all employees involved in the activists’ case to come to work. “There is no need to ‘sneak’ through side entrances, let them come to the main one, they will be let through,” they stated.
The family of Marija Vasić, a Novi Sad professor and activist who has been on a hunger and thirst strike in detention, was also present at the court. Vasić was transferred to the prison hospital of the Central Prison in Belgrade late last week due to her deteriorating health.
Her son, Milan Čanak, stated that he and his family still have “zero information” regarding his mother’s condition. Marija Vasić began her strike on May 13th.
The six activists – Mladen Cvijetić, Srđan Đurić, Lazar Dinić, Lado Jovović, Davor Stefanović, and Marija Vasić – were arrested on March 14th, the day before a large protest in Belgrade, accused of preparing actions against Serbia’s constitutional order and security.
Prior to their arrest, pro-government television stations with national coverage aired an audio recording of a wiretapped conversation from a meeting of the activists, allegedly discussing plans to propose a transitional government and storm the Radio-Television of Serbia building during the Belgrade protest.
Defense lawyers for the accused have repeatedly argued that the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) illegally wiretapped the conversation, asserting that the audio recording cannot be considered legally valid evidence in the case.
The release of the activists has previously been demanded by students involved in the blockade, citizen assemblies, dozens of non-governmental organizations, and the European Parliament.
