Serbia Intensifies Crackdown on Activist Groups Linked to U.S. Aid

In response to escalating student protests, Serbian authorities, emboldened by trends in U.S. politics, target NGOs with ties to foreign funding, leading to unwarranted police actions and threats against activists.

In a significant escalation of state-sponsored intimidation, Serbia's government appears to have shifted its focus toward independent activist groups amid ongoing student-led protests. President Aleksandar Vucic's regime, responding to what it claims are foreign instigations, has launched a series of raids targeting organizations funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.). This strategy mirrors tactics employed in the United States during former President Trump’s administration.

The crackdown took a dramatic turn on February 25, when armed police stormed the offices of four non-governmental organizations (NGOs), executing these incursions without warrants. Among those targeted were notable groups like the Centre for Research, Transparency and Accountability, which reported losing 8,500 pages of sensitive documents, and Civic Initiatives, which surrendered large quantities of confidential material, including personal data of its personnel.

Vucic’s assault on civil society highlights an alarming trend where the government scapegoats organizations that address issues like corruption and electoral integrity. While some of these groups have received partial funding from U.S.A.I.D., one of the attacked organizations had no such links. This development underscores a chilling disregard for civil liberties and a clear message: dissent against the government is being met with heavy-handed reprisals.

As citizens demand accountability and transparency, the fate of civil society in Serbia hangs in the balance, as authorities appear increasingly willing to quash dissent with force.