ALL EYES ON SERBIAN STUDENTS

During the evening of Tuesday, October 28th and morning of Wednesday, October 29th, several articles began circulating in Serbian media, about Lana Par, the president of the European Students’ Union (ESU) joining the commemorative gathering in Novi Sad, on November 1st:

These articles accused the European Students’ Union of hypocrisy, political manipulation and even extremism.

Why? 

Because ESU accepted the invitation to join the Serbian students – to support their movement against chronic corruption – and because the president of an independent European umbrella student organisation, representing over 20 million students, is attending an event in solidarity with one of the biggest student protest movements in Europe over the past decade. 

ESU believes that when students in any part of Europe face intimidation, censorship, or corruption, it is our collective responsibility to stand beside them. 

Harsh accusations have also been directed to Lana Par personally, targeting her Croatian nationality and portraying her as a politically controlled extremist representing the hidden interests of her country.

If an European organization and its leader can be targeted this easily, what does that say about the reality that Serbian students face every day? Attacks, silencing, pressure – or all three? 

Most importantly, ESU is deeply concerned about the safety of all those involved in the commemorative event. Fearing the repercussions all the students involved might face, ESU urges all European actors (especially the European Commission, European Parliament, EU member states and the Council of Europe), as well as the civil society, human rights organizations and students everywhere to stay alert and stand in solidarity with Serbian students. 

ESU firmly rejects any forms of intimidation or propaganda aimed at silencing student voices.

All eyes on Students in Serbia!