Serbia Authorities Reportedly Press Banks to Reveal Activists’ Transactions
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Loading... - Frieda Wagner
- 06 Feb 2025
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The Serbian Finance Ministry’s Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering has reportedly requested banks to provide information regarding the bank accounts and transactions of five activists, as reported by the weekly magazine Radar. This move has raised concerns among activists and human rights organizations about potential state surveillance and intimidation tactics.
Sofija Todorovic, director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights and one of the targeted activists, expressed that this action is part of a broader narrative aimed at dividing protesters. She stated that officials are spreading claims that some activists are attempting to incite animosity towards the civil sector and non-governmental organizations. “I see that as part of the new campaign to deal with the protests, which they basically don’t know how to deal with,” Todorovic told BIRN.
The ongoing student protests in Serbia were sparked by the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people. The protests have continued for over two months, fueled by public outrage over the ruling party’s response to attempts to commemorate the victims. Support for the protests has grown, with backing from university professors, school pupils, teachers, lawyers, and some medical professionals, marking one of the largest protest movements in decades.
In an effort to undermine the protests, state officials and regime-affiliated media have labeled the demonstrations as an “attack on the state,” branding the students as “spies” and “foreign mercenaries.” Many students who have spoken publicly have faced smear campaigns in the media shortly thereafter.
According to Radar, the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering has sought to investigate the financial activities of five activists, including Todorovic, Maja Stojanovic from Civic Initiatives, and Katarina Djukic from the ProGlas initiative. Additional checks were requested for Predrag Vostinic from the Lokalni front and Nebojsa Petkovic from the association “Ne damo Jadar,” which opposes a controversial lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley.
The Administration has reportedly requested detailed information about the activists' domestic and foreign currency accounts, including inflows and outflows, current balances, authorized signatories, and any safe deposit box ownership. Todorovic emphasized that this scrutiny is not merely routine but part of a larger governmental effort to suppress free thought and dissent during a significant political crisis.
BIRN has previously reported instances of state-sponsored surveillance targeting activists in Serbia. This is not the first time the Administration has been accused of acting as a tool for the state against individuals deemed public “enemies.” In July 2020, it was reported that the Administration sought access to bank data for 20 individuals and 37 NGOs, including investigative media outlets and prominent human rights organizations.
As of the time of publication, the Administration had not responded to BIRN’s inquiries regarding these claims. The situation continues to raise alarms about the implications for civil liberties and the safety of activists in Serbia.
