Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić said on Saturday that the recent blockade of the public broadcaster RTS constitutes a criminal offense under national law, calling on judicial authorities to act and accusing university leadership of cowardice amid growing student-led protests.
In an interview on pro-government broadcaster TV Pink, Brnabić cited Article 149 of Serbia’s Criminal Code, which criminalizes unauthorized interference with radio or television broadcasting. “Blocking RTS is a direct criminal act,” she said. “Those responsible can face fines or up to one year in prison.”
Her comments come amid mounting anti-government protests in Belgrade and other cities, led by students and opposition groups accusing the government of stifling media freedom, politicizing education, and suppressing dissent. Demonstrators have organized blockades and sit-ins at the University of Belgrade and other institutions, while RTS—frequently criticized as being biased in favor of the ruling SNS party—has become a focal point of frustration.
Brnabić said she planned to raise the issue with ambassadors of the Quint countries—representing the U.S., UK, France, Germany, and Italy—arguing that Western partners who often criticize Serbia over media freedom should now weigh in on “what this kind of media freedom looks like in the better and more democratic Serbia” advocated by protesters.
The speaker also strongly criticized University of Belgrade Rector Vladan Đokić, calling his response to the protests “cowardly” after he distanced himself from student blockades following an interview with police.
“I would expect anyone in education—teachers, professors, deans, or rectors—to stand up for their students,” Brnabić said. “But what did Rector Đokić do? He said, ‘I’m not to blame, I didn’t order the blockades, and I didn’t tell faculties to stop working.’ He blamed it all on the students.”
Brnabić accused Đokić of protecting himself at the expense of students and the academic community. “He said, ‘Don’t blame me.’ What a coward. It’s the most disgraceful behavior I’ve seen,” she added.
The clash between government officials and academic leaders highlights growing tensions in Serbia amid ongoing political unrest, with protesters demanding more transparency, academic freedom, and fair media representation ahead of potential early elections.
The government, led by President Aleksandar Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), has been under pressure from domestic critics and international observers for its record on media freedom, judicial independence, and democratic standards.
