Serbia

A bipartisan, bicameral group of US lawmakers is pressing for tougher action on what they describe as democratic backsliding, corruption, and growing Russian, Chinese, and Iranian influence in Serbia, just weeks before snap parliamentary elections that could reshape the country's political landscape.

Serbia's president has resigned after more than a year of student-led protests and growing public discontent over allegations of government corruption. … He had already announced his intention to resign in June and is currently standing to be his party's candidate for prime minister in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Vučić cannot run for a third presidential term under Serbia's constitution.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission ahead of the 25 October early parliamentary elections, following an invitation from the national authorities and based on the findings of a pre-election needs assessment mission.

President sets October 25 election date, saying Serbia needs an end to a year-and-a-half of 'turbulence' - referring to student-led protests that have rocked the country.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos cancelled her planned visit to EU candidate state Serbia on Friday, the day after Ratko Mladic’s body was transported on a government plane to Belgrade, where it was met by officials and an army honour guard. … Her criticisms have been echoed by ministers from several other EU member states. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed Kos’s criticism as “extremely brief, but stupid, as usual”. 

A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has taken aim at the government of longtime Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, citing what it calls “serious setbacks” in democracy and the rule of law, as well as Belgrade’s ties with US adversaries Iran, Russia, and China.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s surprise announcement that he could resign within weeks has generated remarkably little political reaction, with neither the government nor the opposition showing signs of preparing for an early presidential election.

The UN human rights chief warned on Thursday that Serbia is facing a steady erosion of civic space, with mounting evidence that pressure on journalists, civil society, and political dissent is becoming more systematic.

Attacks against journalists and independent media outlets in Serbia have spiralled in the past year, UN experts* warned today, calling on the Government to end impunity for perpetrators of these crimes.

A day after a huge commemorative rally in Novi Sad, clashes between ruling party supporters and protesters erupted in front of parliament, resulting in 37 arrests.