We condemn the violence and abuse of power in Serbia

As representatives of the younger generation of writers, we wish to express our clear support for the open letter that was addressed to the European Union leaders by PEN International, in cooperation with centres of former Yugoslavia. The letter draws attention to the serious and alarming situation in Serbia, where fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression, the right of peaceful assembly and the security of individuals are currently at stake. The words of our older colleagues are not just a warning, they are an urgent call to account.

When journalists and writers are persecuted for doing their job, when we see that our colleagues in Serbia are being targeted by violence, and when the government is deliberately creating an atmosphere of fear, we know that we must not remain silent. Words are our basic tools, but they are also our responsibility. If freedom of expression is quashed, so is our future.

The events in Serbia exceed internal political tensions. They represent a systematic undermining of trust in the law, in democratic institutions, and in the very value of human dignity. Every attack on protesters, every silenced word of a journalist, every case of arbitrary repression is a reminder that democracy is never granted forever, but must be defended again and again. As the letter points out, it is all the more worrying that this is happening in a country that is currently an applicant for membership in the European Union. If the European Union remains a passive observer, this will not only be considered a betrayal of the Serbian society, but also a betrayal of European values, which are supposed to be the foundation of the integration of nations.

This is why, as young authors and writers, we stand by our colleagues in Serbia, as well as by everyone there who is fighting for the right to have their voice heard. At the same time, we urge the European Union to listen – not only out of political interest, but to ensure its own credibility. If the European Union is truly founded on the principles of freedom, equality, and human dignity, then silence is not an option. We support the requirements of PEN International:

• that the European Union firmly condemns the violence and abuse of power in Serbia,
• that any further step made by Serbia towards its membership in the European Union is conditional on its respect for freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly,
• that European funds must not be used to strengthen repressive structures, but to support civil society and independent media.

Let us be clear: literature, art, and journalism can only thrive in a country where human freedom is protected. We support this call to action in the name of solidarity, dignity, and a future that will be ours to live in. The European Union must demonstrate that its values are not just clichés but actions that bring real change.

Our solidarity with protesters, journalists, and writers in Serbia is not only an expression of empathy, but also stems from the awareness that freedom is indivisible. If it is endangered in one country, it is endangered everywhere. It is us, the young people, that will live in the Europe of the future. We want it to be a place where literature can grow without fear, where critical thoughts are not punished but encouraged, and where the courage of individuals will be the harbinger of change.

We firmly believe that words are powerful. Therefore, we are expressing our solidarity in the language we know best – in the language of literature and publicly expressed words. Let this also be a call for the voices of young people to not be ignored. Freedom of expression is not a privilege, but the foundation without which a future is not worthy of the name.

Selma Skenderović is the president of PEN Youth Slovenia.

Read the open letter of PEN International.

The project On the Balcony of the Balkans, hosted on the AirBeletrina portal, seeks to foster intercultural dialogue and strengthen cooperation among artists, institutions, and countries of the former Yugoslavia. It is not rooted in nostalgia or focused on the past, but is instead centered on present realities and, above all, aimed at reflecting on the future, as it seeks to contribute to the most successful possible development of the region. It is carried out with the support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia.

The article in English, in collaboration with the AirBeletrina portal, is published on Versopolis, but you can also read it in Slovenian or Croatian by clicking on the AirBeletrina website.