The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights strongly condemns the arrest of publicist, columnist for the Peščanik portal, and long-time collaborator of the Centre, Dejan Ilić, and his detention by the police on April 10, 2025. The actions of the prosecution and police in this case represent the continuation of an orchestrated process of intimidation and criminal prosecution of dissenting voices, sending a clear message that freedom of expression and the right to criticize the government in Serbia are severely threatened.
The atmosphere in society has already been extremely tense, further exacerbated by a series of events — illegal wiretapping and arrests of activists and journalists, threats and physical attacks on citizens and students, their detention, the use of an unidentified sonic or similar dangerous device against thousands of peaceful protesters on March 15, the expulsion of foreign nationals for supporting students, the daily targeting of university professors, announcements of their arrests and criminal prosecution, and a series of other incidents.
Dejan Ilić’s appearance on Nova S television on March 29, during which he expressed his opinion on the current political crisis and warned that the absence of a peaceful resolution would inevitably lead society into violence, represents, above all, a general conclusion and an expression of freedom of thought. Such statements cannot, in any way, constitute the criminal offense of causing panic and disorder under Article 343 of the Criminal Code, but rather reflect what the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and international standards protect — the right to freedom of thought and expression.
After several hours of detention by the police and questioning by the prosecution, Dejan Ilić was released, but the Ministry of the Interior of Serbia announced that a criminal complaint would be filed against him for causing panic and disorder. Particularly concerning is the manner in which Dejan Ilić’s detention was carried out. According to Article 291 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the police are required to immediately bring the arrested individual before the competent public prosecutor. Detention for up to 48 hours is a legal exception that must be justified and specifically explained, as it involves deprivation of liberty. In this case, given the circumstances (the alleged time of the crime, the persistence of the alleged evidence, and Dejan Ilić’s inability to influence them in any way), it is clear that his detention by the police was a form of punishment, aimed solely at discouraging him and other free-thinking individuals in Serbia from engaging in critical discourse in the public space.
The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights will continue to closely monitor developments and inform international institutions about the systematic violations of citizens’ rights by state authorities, seeking their response.
