For several months now, Serbia has been rocked by a wave of mass protests, led primarily by students, intellectuals, and civil society activists. Their demands are clear: free and fair elections, independent media, and an end to the increasingly authoritarian grip of the current regime. But in response to this democratic awakening, the state’s reaction has been brutally repressive.

Images of clashes between peaceful demonstrators and special police forces have gone viral, sparking international concern. Violence against students, arbitrary arrests, and the silence of state institutions have exposed a bitter truth: democracy in Serbia is in deep crisis.

A Dangerous Democratic Regression
Serbia has long sought to shed the image of authoritarianism inherited from the regime of Slobodan Milošević. Yet today, it appears to be falling back into the same patterns of repression. State mechanisms are used to intimidate citizens, silence dissent, and consolidate political power far beyond democratic norms.

While the Serbian government continues to present itself as committed to European integration and democratic values, the reality on the ground tells a very different story: a captured media, politicized judiciary, and a complete lack of transparency in electoral processes.

The Boomerang of Propaganda
Ironically, Serbia today is being confronted by the very tactics it once used against others. In the early 1989-1990s, Serbian state media spread false and exaggerated reports of “massacres and terror” in neighboring countries like Albania and Romania. Claims of up to 600,000 people killed in Romania were propagated by Belgrade in an attempt to justify its own authoritarian stance and destabilize surrounding states.

But history has a way of demanding accountability. Today, Serbia is facing the same accusations it once hurled at others. Instead of learning from its past, the state is reviving the same propaganda and repression that fueled a decade of conflict and instability.

International Silence and the Role of Civil Society
The international response to Serbia’s ongoing crisis has been largely muted, if not entirely passive. While some human rights organizations have sounded the alarm, meaningful diplomatic pressure has yet to materialize. This silence sends a dangerous message to Serbian authorities: that they can act with impunity.

In this context, the role of civil society — particularly the country’s youth and intellectuals — becomes crucial. These groups are keeping the democratic flame alive in an environment where freedom of expression is under daily threat. They are Serbia’s greatest hope for a better future — a Serbia that belongs to its citizens, not to political clans or authoritarian structures.

Conclusion

Serbia is at a crossroads. The path it chooses today will shape not only its political future but also its place in the European community. A state that uses force against its own students and silences dissent cannot claim to be democratic.

It is time for Serbia to face the truth. And it is time for the international community to stop turning a blind eye to this alarming democratic backslide.