[English below]
Mi, članovi i članice Međunarodnog PEN centra, pisci i spisateljice iz zemalja bivše Jugoslavije, izražavamo punu i nedvosmislenu podršku protestima studenata i studentica u Srbiji, kao i profesorima i profesoricama koji stoje uz njih u borbi za dostojanstveniji, pravedniji i slobodniji život.
Ovi protesti predstavljaju borbu protiv korupcije, autoritarnosti, urušavanja institucija, gušenja slobode govora, te akademskih i medijskih sloboda. Studenti se zalažu za temeljne demokratske vrijednosti, poštovanje ljudskih prava i sloboda, kao i za evropske vrijednosti koje podrazumijevaju vladavinu prava, odgovornost vlasti i otvoreno društvo.
Ono što je započelo kao lokalni studentski otpor, izrastalo je u simbol nade za cijeli region. Inspiracija koju pruža ovaj pokret prelazi granice Srbije – studenti i građani širom zemalja bivše Jugoslavije u ovim mladim ljudima prepoznaju nadu, snagu i hrabrost. Sve više mladih u regionu se ugleda na njihove akcije, što govori o istinskoj snazi i iskrenosti njihovog otpora.
Snažno i odlučno osuđujemo svako nasilje i represiju koje režim u Srbiji sprovodi nad mirnim demonstrantima. Posebno osuđujemo prijetnje i zastrašivanja upućena studentima, njihovim profesorima, kao i javnim ličnostima koje im pružaju podršku. Nasilje nad mladima koji se bore za svoje pravo da govore, da misle i da se obrazuju u slobodnom društvu, mora prestati.
Zahtijevamo hitno puštanje na slobodu svih političkih zatvorenika, kao i obustavu svih sudskih procesa koji su jasno politički motivirani i kojima je cilj gušenje slobode mišljenja i govora u Srbiji.
U vremenu kada autoritarna vlast pokušava da utiša i ponizi najhrabrije među nama, dužnost nas, pisaca i spisateljica, branilaca i braniteljica slobode izražavanja, jeste da stanemo uz njih.
Maj 2025.
Support for student protests in Serbia
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As members of PEN International, we, writers from the countries of the former Yugoslav region, offer our full and unambiguous support to students protesting in Serbia, as well as to the professors who stand by them in their struggle for a life more dignified, just and free.
These protests represent a struggle against corruption, authoritarianism, breakdown of the institutions, throttling of the freedom of speech, as well as of academic and media freedoms. Students in Serbia are advocating for fundamental democratic freedoms, respect for human rights and liberties, as well as for European values such as the rule of law, responsibility of government and open society.
What started as a local student resistance has grown in a symbol of hope for the whole region. Inspiration that this movement offers has crossed the borders of Serbia, as students and citizens in the whole of the former Yugoslav region recognise hope, strength and courage in these young people. Increasing numbers of young people in the region are starting to act inspired by these protests, which is a reflexion of the authentic strength and honesty of their resistance.
We strongly and decisively condemn all violence and repression directed by the regime in Serbia at the peaceful protesters. We especially condemn threats and intimidation directed at students, their professors, as well as against public figures who have supported them. All violence against the young people who are fighting for their right to speak, to think and to be educated in a free society must cease.
We demand that all political prisoners be immediately released, as well as for the cessation of all criminal prosecutions which are clearly politically motivated and aimed at suppression of free speech and thought in Serbia.
At the time when the authoritarian government is trying to silence and humiliate the bravest among us, our duty as writers and defenders of the freedom of expression is to stand with them.
May 2025
Adnadin Jašarević, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Adnan Čirgić, predśednik Crnogorskog PEN-a/President of Montenegrin PEN
Ajla Demiragić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Aleksandar Prokopiev, Board member of Macedonian PEN
Aleksandar Radoman, član Upravnog odbora Crnogorskog PEN-a/Montenegrin PEN Board member
Alida Bremer, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Almir Alić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Almir Bašović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Almir Imširević, predsjednik Skupštine PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina Assembly President
Almir Zalihić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Aljaž Koprivnikar, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN Board Member
Aljoša Pužar, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Amer Tikveša, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Amir Talić, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Amira Sadiković, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Ana Pejović, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Anastasija Djurčinova, Macedonian PEN
Andrea Lešić-Thomas, predsjednica PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/President of PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Andrej Detela, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Andrej Nikolaidis, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Anisa Avdagić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Antonije Nino Žalica, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Asmir Kujović, član Upravnog odbora PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina Board member
Barbara Korun, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Boban Batrićević, potpredśednik Crnogorskog PEN-a/Vice-President of Montenegrin PEN
Boris A. Novak, počasni član PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/Honorary member of PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Božo Koprivica, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Brane Mozetič, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Branko Cvetkoski, Macedonian PEN
Branko Čegec, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Branko Kukić, Srpski PEN/Serbian PEN
Damir Uzunović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Danijela Majstorović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Danilo Lompar, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Darko Šuković, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Daryja Pavlešen, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Dean Trdak, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Dejan Trajkovski, Macedonian PEN
Dimitar Baševski, Macedonian PEN
Dimitrie Duracovski, Macedonian PEN
Dinko Delić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Dino Burdžović, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Dragana Kršenković Brković, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Dragana Tripković, potpredśednica Crnogorskog PEN-a/Vice-President of Montenegrin PEN
Draško Đuranović, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Dražen Katunarić, član Upravnog odbora Hrvatskog PEN-a/ Board member of Croatian PEN
Dženan Skelić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Edi Matić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Edin Krehić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Elizabeta Šeleva, Macedonian PEN
Elma Tataragić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Elvis Ljajić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Emina Đelilović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Enver Kazaz, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Ermis Lafazanovski, Macedonian PEN
Evelina Umek, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Faiz Softić, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Faruk Šehić, član Upravnog odbora PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina Board member
Ferida Duraković, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Goce Smilevski, Macedonian PEN
Gojko Božović, potpredsednik Srpskog PEN centra/Vice-President of Serbian PEN
Goran Sarić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Igor Divjak, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN Vice-President
Igor Angjelkov, Macedonian PEN
Ivan Djeparoski, Board member of Macedonian PEN
Ivan Radeljković, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Ivana Vujović, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Jasmin Agić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Jasmin Duraković, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Jasna Šamić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Jelena Lužina, Macedonian PEN
Jure Apih, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Kalina Maleska, Macedonian PEN
Katica Kulavkova, Macedonian PEN
Lamija Begagić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Lidija Dimkovska, Macedonian PEN
Lidija Drakulevska, Board member of Macedonian PEN
Lila Cona, predsjednica Cincarskog PEN-a/president of PEN Armãn
Ljubomir Mudreša, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Marija Dejanović, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Marijana Šutić, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Marko Kravos, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Marko Vidojković, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN, Honorary Member
Marta Džaja, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Mehmed Meša Đedović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Meta Kušar, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Milan Jazbec, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN Honorary Court Member
Milan Marković, član Upravnog odbora Crnogorskog PEN-a/Montenegrin PEN Board member
Milena Šmit, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN Board Member
Milisav Savić, Srpski PEN/Serbian PEN
Miodrag Bajković, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Miraš Martinović, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Mirela Pehiljagić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Mirza Sarajkić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Monika Herceg, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Monika Zagar, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN WiPC representative
Muhamed Dželilović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Nadežda Čačinovič, potpredsjednica Hrvatskog PEN-a/Vice-President of Croatian PEN
Nadija Rebronja, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Nataša Avramovska, Board member of Macedonian PEN
Nataša Govedić, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Neda Nikolić Bobić, sekretarka Upravnog odbora Srpskog PEN centra/ Secretary of the Board of Serbian PEN
Nedžad Ibrahimović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Nela Savković-Vukčević, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Nemanja Batrićević, član Upravnog odbora Crnogorskog PEN-a/Montenegrin PEN Board member
Nenad Popović, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Nerzuk Ćurak, član Upravnog odbora PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina Board member
Nihad Hasanović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Nikola Madzirov, Board member of Macedonian PEN
Nikola Petković, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Nikolina Andova, Macedonian PEN
Olivera Kjorveziroska, Vice-President of Macedonian PEN
Olivera Komar, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Peter Kovačič, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Rafaela Božić, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Ratko Adamović, Srpski PEN/Serbian PEN
Refik Ličina, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Robert Alagjozovski, Macedonian PEN
Rumena Bužarovska, Macedonian PEN
Sande Stojčevski, Macedonian PEN
Sanja Pregl, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Sanja Roić, članica Upravnog odbora Hrvatskog PEN-a/ Board member of Croatian PEN
Sanja Šoštarić, članica Upravnog odbora PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina Board member
Selma Raljević, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Selvedin Avdić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Senada Kreso, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Senka Marić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Sibila Petlevski, potpredsjednica Hrvatskog PEN-a/Vice-President of Croatian PEN
Slavko Pregl, Slovenski PEN/ Slovene PEN
Slobodan B. Medojević, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Slobodan Čukić, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Snežana Mladenova Angjelkov, Macedonian PEN
Snježana Banović, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Sofija Kalezić, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Srđa Pavlović, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Sreten Vujović, potpredśednik Crnogorskog PEN-a/Vice-President of Montenegrin PEN
Stefan Todorović, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Svetlana Čabarkapa, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Svetlana Slapšak, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Šefik Daupović, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Šuhreta Shura Dumanić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Tanja Miletić Oručević, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Tanja Pavićević, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Tanja Stupar, članica Upravnog odbora PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina Board member
Tanja Špes, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Tanja Šuković, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Tanja Tuma, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN President, and Board Member of PEN International
Tomica Bajsić, predsjednik Hrvatskog PEN-a/President of Croatian PEN
Tone Peršak, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN Board Member
Vahid Duraković, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Vahidin Preljević, član Upravnog odbora PEN Centra Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina Board member
Vanda Mikšić, Hrvatski PEN/Croatian PEN
Venko Andonovski, Macedonian PEN
Veselin Konjević, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Vesna Acevska, Macedonian PEN
Vesna Mikolič, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN Board Member
Vida Ognjenović, predsednica Srpskog PEN centra/Presideent of Serbian PEN
Vladimir Jankovski, Macedonian PEN
Vladimir Martinovski, President of Macedonian PEN
Vladimir Vojinović, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Vlado Žabot, Slovenski PEN/Slovene PEN
Vukota Vukotić, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Zlatko Dizdarević, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Zlatko Topčić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Zlatko Topčić, PEN Centar Bosne i Hercegovine/PEN Centre of Bosnia-Herzegovina
Zoran Ančevski, Macedonian PEN
Zorica Mrvaljević, Crnogorski PEN/Montenegrin PEN
Žarko Kujundjiski, Macedonian PEN
