Appeal in support of Serbian students and faculty

An appeal from the international academic community regarding the events in Serbia has collected 4,500 signatures from university professors and researchers in just a few days. The list includes, among others, eminent figures such as Thomas Piketty, Nancy Fraser, Slavoj Žižek, Judith Butler, Francis Fukuyama, Maarten Baes, Santiago Gonzalez-Gaitan and Nobel Prize winner Annie Ernaux. The collectively signed statement underscores deep concern over the recent violent crackdown on student-led protests in Belgrade.

We express our deepest concern over the violent incidents during the student-led protests in Belgrade, where peaceful demonstrators, including students and professors, were exposed to non-lethal weapons, resulting in injuries and severe distress.

The reports of an unexplained, powerful sonic disturbance causing mass panic and stampede-like movements among the crowd raise alarming questions about the tactics employed against peaceful citizens exercising their fundamental rights. This illegal deliberate use of means designed to incite fear, confusion, and disorder in a public gathering represents a grave violation of human rights, including the right to peaceful assembly, the right to physical integrity, and ultimately, the right to life.

The student protests emerged as a response to the tragic collapse of a canopy that claimed 15 lives, a disaster that epitomizes the consequences of systemic corruption, institutional failure and lack of accountability. Their demand for the rule of law and functional institutions is not only justified but essential for preventing future tragedies and ensuring a just and responsible governance system.

In addition to these concerning events, we strongly condemn the intimidation and smear campaign directed at the rector of the University of Belgrade. The targeted attacks against the rector, who has stood in defense of academic integrity and students' rights, have escalated into an open campaign led by pro-regime public figures calling for his arrest. This blatant attempt at intimidation represents a broader effort to silence critical voices within higher education and undermine the autonomy of academic institutions.

We call upon the Serbian authorities to conduct an immediate and transparent investigation into the events of the protest, to hold accountable those responsible for the use of unlawful means against demonstrators, and to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and all citizens who engage in peaceful expression.

We stand in solidarity with our colleagues and students in Serbia and urge universities, research institutions, and academic networks worldwide to join us in condemning this act and reaffirming our shared commitment to basic human rights.

The full text of the appeal and the list of signatories can be consulted here .