Contents: Society

Fiume o morte

Fascism and Resistance: What We Can Learn from the Croatian Oscar Nominee 

“Rijeka is a Croatian city, as well." This is how Igor Bezinović, director of "Fiume o Morte!" describes an important message of his film, which is this year’s Croatian candidate for the Oscars and has already been awarded the main prize in Rotterdam. 

“Rijeka is a Croatian city, as well.” This is how Igor Bezinović, director of “Fiume o Morte!” describes an important message of his film, which is this year’s Croatian candidate for the Oscars and has already been awarded the main prize in Rotterdam. 

Serbian diaspora rallies worldwide to mark November 1 anniversary

To mark the anniversary of the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station, commemorative gatherings will be held this weekend in more than 50 cities around the world, organized by Serbian citizens living abroad. The November 1 gatherings will take place in about 15 cities across the United States, several in Australia, and multiple cities in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, and other European countries.

To mark the anniversary of the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station, commemorative gatherings will be held this weekend in more than 50 cities around the world, organized by Serbian citizens living abroad. The November 1 gatherings will take place in about 15 cities across the United States, several in Australia, and multiple cities in Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Austria, Italy, and other European countries.

Blockade of the court building in Novi Sad

Finally Free: Mašina Speaks with Released Activists

Six and a half months. That’s how long members of the Novi Sad branch of the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG), Marija Vasić and Lado Jovović, along with STAV activist Lazar Dinić, spent in detention, both in jail and under house arrest. For almost two months, Dimitrije Dimić, a student in Niš, wore an ankle monitor. All of them are facing charges of organizing the violent overthrow of the constitutional order. But for the foreseeable future, they will (hopefully) be able to freely prove their innocence. Jovović, Dinić, and Dimić spoke to Mašina about the past months and their reactions to the courts’ decision to lift the previous restrictions.

Six and a half months. That’s how long members of the Novi Sad branch of the Movement of Free Citizens (PSG), Marija Vasić and Lado Jovović, along with STAV activist Lazar Dinić, spent in detention, both in jail and under house arrest. For almost two months, Dimitrije Dimić, a student in Niš, wore an ankle monitor. All of them are facing charges of organizing the violent overthrow of the constitutional order. But for the foreseeable future, they will (hopefully) be able to freely prove their innocence. Jovović, Dinić, and Dimić spoke to Mašina about the past months and their reactions to the courts’ decision to lift the previous restrictions.

Protest in New Belgrade

Tear Gas and Defiance: Serbia’s Streets Erupt Against State Violence

Tear gas, smoke bombs, police beatings, and the military. The second day of mass protests in Serbia has been marked by arrests, police brutality, attacks on journalists and government impunity. However, citizens do not appear to be backing down. What exactly has transpired on the streets of Serbia these past three days?

Tear gas, smoke bombs, police beatings, and the military. The second day of mass protests in Serbia has been marked by arrests, police brutality, attacks on journalists and government impunity. However, citizens do not appear to be backing down. What exactly has transpired on the streets of Serbia these past three days?

Masked Men Violently Evict Students in Novi Pazar; Students Retake Building

All day, police blocked the entrance to the State University in Novi Pazar (DUNP), a Muslim-majority city in southeastern Serbia. In the early hours this morning, masked individuals forcibly removed student protesters from the building, leaving one student injured. As students from across the country flocked in support, students regained access to the building and chanted "Victory!" Citizens are now organizing protest blockades across the country in solidarity.

All day, police blocked the entrance to the State University in Novi Pazar (DUNP), a Muslim-majority city in southeastern Serbia. In the early hours this morning, masked individuals forcibly removed student protesters from the building, leaving one student injured. As students from across the country flocked in support, students regained access to the building and chanted “Victory!” Citizens are now organizing protest blockades across the country in solidarity.

More Baseless Arrests: Escalating Repression Breeds Fiercer Resistance in Serbia

30 days of detention have been ordered for nine residents of the western city of Užice following protests during which citizens broke through the police cordon. Ahead of the St. Vitus protest on June 28, police detained eight other individuals and accused them of planning to potentially "undermining the constitutional order" – in other words, terrorism. Seven of them received the same sentence as those from Užice. In total, 16 people are currently behind bars, three of whom are students. Through this move, the Serbian government demonstrated its intent to again apply the methods it used in Novi Sad, where six activists were detained on similar charges in March 2025. However, as it turns out, the public’s response to such heightened repression and oppression is heightened resistance.

30 days of detention have been ordered for nine residents of the western city of Užice following protests during which citizens broke through the police cordon. Ahead of the St. Vitus protest on June 28, police detained eight other individuals and accused them of planning to potentially “undermining the constitutional order” – in other words, terrorism. Seven of them received the same sentence as those from Užice. In total, 16 people are currently behind bars, three of whom are students. Through this move, the Serbian government demonstrated its intent to again apply the methods it used in Novi Sad, where six activists were detained on similar charges in March 2025. However, as it turns out, the public’s response to such heightened repression and oppression is heightened resistance.

Nationwide Street Blockades Grow Despite Mass Arrests and Police Repression

For a week, street blockades and other acts of civil disobedience have broken out throughout Serbia. In Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad, and other cities, citizens have been blocking intersections and major roads to demand that the government hold snap parliamentary elections. In response, the police have been beating and arresting students and citizens alike – further fueling outrage and raising the stakes of a movement that shows no signs of backing down.

For a week, street blockades and other acts of civil disobedience have broken out throughout Serbia. In Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad, and other cities, citizens have been blocking intersections and major roads to demand that the government hold snap parliamentary elections. In response, the police have been beating and arresting students and citizens alike – further fueling outrage and raising the stakes of a movement that shows no signs of backing down.

Belgrade’s Mass Protest and the Clashes that Followed: A Recap of Events

The student protest on St. Vitus Day, a significant national and religious holiday in Serbia, was held on Saturday in Belgrade. 140,000 people joined while supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party gathered in their counter protest in Pionirski Park. Here's a breakdown of what followed.

The student protest on St. Vitus Day, a significant national and religious holiday in Serbia, was held on Saturday in Belgrade. 140,000 people joined while supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party gathered in their counter protest in Pionirski Park. Here’s a breakdown of what followed.

Students blockading their universities today filed a criminal complaint against the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, for what they describe as an unauthorized visit to an intensive care unit on March 17, when he visited North Macedonian citizens who were severely burned and injured in a fire in the city of Kočani.

Students in Blockade File a Criminal Complaint Against President of Serbia

Students blockading their universities yesterday filed a criminal complaint against the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, for what they describe as an unauthorized visit to an intensive care unit on March 17, when he visited North Macedonian citizens who were severely burned and injured in a fire in the city of Kočani.

Students blockading their universities yesterday filed a criminal complaint against the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, for what they describe as an unauthorized visit to an intensive care unit on March 17, when he visited North Macedonian citizens who were severely burned and injured in a fire in the city of Kočani.

Government Influence and Academic Resistance in Serbia

As the government seeks to strike a deal with the University of Belgrade’s administration in order to break the student uprising, professors and teaching staff have mobilized to keep higher education a public good. But as resistance intensifies, so too does repression.

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University vs. government: for the first time, no new students enrolled during peacetime

In a video published by students blockading universities, the Rector of the University of Belgrade and other professors stated that, for the first time in 200 years, a decision has not yet been made regarding the enrollment of a new generation of students.

In a video published by students blockading universities, the Rector of the University of Belgrade and other professors stated that, for the first time in 200 years, a decision has not yet been made regarding the enrollment of a new generation of students.

Foto: Prostor ograđen žicom

Point of No Return: An Interview with a Russian Dissident in Exile

As the war in Ukraine continues, Russian citizens face mounting repression at home, forcing many into exile. Among them is a former theater professional, who, for safety reasons, has chosen to remain anonymous. She fled to Serbia after years of activism and aiding political prisoners. Her journey is a stark reminder of how fragile freedoms can be – and a quiet cautionary tale for Serbia, where concerns about shrinking civic space echo the early signs of authoritarianism she once faced in Russia.

As the war in Ukraine continues, Russian citizens face mounting repression at home, forcing many into exile. Among them is a former theater professional, who, for safety reasons, has chosen to remain anonymous. She fled to Serbia after years of activism and aiding political prisoners. Her journey is a stark reminder of how fragile freedoms can be – and a quiet cautionary tale for Serbia, where concerns about shrinking civic space echo the early signs of authoritarianism she once faced in Russia.

Foto: Studenti u blokadi

Student-Led Blockades Spread like Wildfire

Today, students across at least eight university faculties have organized blockades and protests to oppose the lethal negligence and political repression by the ruling elite.

Today, students across at least eight university faculties have organized blockades and protests to oppose the lethal negligence and political repression by the ruling elite.

On the Anniversary of the 1944 Liberation of Belgrade, a Protest Against the Demolition of the Old Sava Bridge

In 1944, the Partisans and people of Belgrade prevented the German occupation from demolishing the bridge and hampering the city’s resilience. Today, people are again fighting to prevent similar maneuvers by those in power.

In 1944, the Partisans and people of Belgrade prevented the German occupation from demolishing the bridge and hampering the city’s resilience. Today, people are again fighting to prevent similar maneuvers by those in power.

If Serbia is a tiger economy, why don’t its students have free textbooks like most countries in the region have?

While in neighboring countries elementary school students, and in some cases high school students, are provided with free textbooks, in most of Serbia one can only dream of that.

While in neighboring countries elementary school students, and in some cases high school students, are provided with free textbooks, in most of Serbia one can only dream of that.

“You Can’t Wait For Someone To Give You Your Rights, You Have To Take Them With Your Own Hands” Says Palestinian Studying in Serbia

Like many students studying in another country, Asem catches up with his family on the phone roughly once a week. But unlike other students, Asem’s conversations start with his family telling him, “we are alive.”

Like many students studying in another country, Asem catches up with his family on the phone roughly once a week. But unlike other students, Asem’s conversations start with his family telling him, “we are alive.”

Ten years on, is ‘Skopje 2014’ a sign of the future?

North Macedonia’s right-nationalist VMRO-DPMNE won a landslide electoral victory this week, retaking power with almost three times the votes of their rival, pro-European Social Democrats. VMRO-DPMNE’s 2014 redevelopment of capital Skopje rapidly passed into regional legend, with the Eurosceptic party replacing Modernist architecture with gleaming neo-classical facades and a vast array of statuary depicting Macedonian heroes.

North Macedonia’s right-nationalist VMRO-DPMNE won a landslide electoral victory this week, retaking power with almost three times the votes of their rival, pro-European Social Democrats. VMRO-DPMNE’s 2014 redevelopment of capital Skopje rapidly passed into regional legend, with the Eurosceptic party replacing Modernist architecture with gleaming neo-classical facades and a vast array of statuary depicting Macedonian heroes.

Intra-Yugoslav Migration of Albanian Workers and Shopkeepers from 1953 to 1989 — An Interview with Rory Archer and Mladen Zobec 

Why did many Albanians work in the private sector in socialist Yugoslavia? How did the state treat small entrepreneurs and migrating seasonal workers? We discussed these and similar questions with researchers from the Centre for Southeast European Studies.

“Why did many Albanians work in the private sector in socialist Yugoslavia? How did the state treat small entrepreneurs and migrating seasonal workers? We discussed these and similar questions with researchers from the Centre for Southeast European Studies.

Serbian Police

Proposed policing bill introduces biometric surveillance, searches without warrants and use of force without justification

A new draft bill on internal affairs is due to be presented to the Serbian public by the end of the year. Members of the opposition and representatives of civil society have warned that it is even more alarming than legislation proposed in September 2021, which was withdrawn following an intervention by the Serbian head of state.

A new draft bill on internal affairs is due to be presented to the Serbian public by the end of the year. Members of the opposition and representatives of civil society have warned that it is even more alarming than legislation proposed in September 2021, which was withdrawn following an intervention by the Serbian head of state.

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