Occupation of Universities

On the occasion of the brutal police raid on the UNS

The Civic Movement Solidarity strongly condemns tonight's occupation of the University of Novi Sad by an unprecedented number of members of the Gendarmerie and riot police.

In full view of the public, the regime has trampled on the laws and the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and trampled on one of the most important democratic principles, the autonomy of the university.

With tonight's police raid on the faculty, the government has directly trampled on the Constitution and committed violence against fundamental democratic values.

The police and the Gendarmerie, which are supposed to protect citizens and the constitutional order, have been put at the service of the political-mafia regime. This is an attack not only on the academic community, but also on the dignity of all citizens of Serbia.

The Civic Movement Solidarity is tonight on the side of students, professors and all citizens who defend the right to freedom of expression and the autonomy of institutions. We call on the public to raise their voices against the militarization of society and the suppression of freedom, and the Prosecutor's Office to immediately react and investigate the responsibility of those who ordered the police raid on the university.

Political violence against universities must not become the new "normal" in Serbia. There is no defense of personal freedom and university autonomy without joint resistance.