(Belgrade, Serbia) An appeal by the international academic community regarding events in Serbia has, in just one day, gathered signatures from over 2,000 university professors and researchers. The list includes eminent figures such as Thomas Piketty, Nancy Fraser, Slavoj Žižek, Judith Butler, Francis Fukuyama, Maarten Baes, Santiago Gonzalez-Gaitan, Nobel Prize laureate Annie Ernaux and many others. The collective statement underscores deep concern over the recent violent suppression of student-led protests in Belgrade.
The text condemns the use of “less-lethal weapons” and cites numerous reports of a powerful sonic disturbance that caused mass panic and a stampede-like reaction among peaceful demonstrators on Saturday evening, resulting in injuries and severe distress. Media outlets worldwide have reported that Serbian authorities may have used sonic weapons during the observation of a moment of silence at Saturday’s protest. This incident has been described as a blatant violation of fundamental human rights, including the rights to peaceful assembly, physical integrity, and life.
The global academic community calls on Serbian authorities to conduct an immediate investigation into these events and to hold accountable those responsible for the unlawful measures against peaceful demonstrators. Academics worldwide are urged to join in condemning these actions and to reaffirm a shared commitment to basic human rights and freedoms.
In addition, the appeal denounces the ongoing intimidation and smear campaign against the rector of the University of Belgrade by the Serbian regime, in response to his support for the students’ demands.
The mass protests in Serbia were triggered by the tragic collapse of a canopy at the newly reconstructed train station in Novi Sad, which claimed 15 lives in November. This event is seen as symptomatic of systemic corruption, institutional failure, and a lack of accountability. The Saturday gathering in Belgrade was widely cited as the largest protest in Serbian history.
