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(Absence of) Trust and Security in the Second Year of the Pandemic – Serbian Citizens’ Opinions about the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s): Maja Bjeloš,Srđan Hercigonja / Language(s): English

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; Accountability; Disaster Risk Management; Serbian Security Policy; immunisation;

The public opinion poll on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of immunisation of the population and the impact of the pandemic on the work of institutions and the status of democracy was conducted during the relatively calm epidemiological period, just before the big wave in late 2021 and early 2022, when Serbia had a record number of registered citizens newly infected with the Coronavirus. At the same time, the survey was conducted in the period when all adult citizens were offered the so-called booster or the third dose of the vaccine against COVID-19. The observed period was marked by the political and security crisis in Kosovo, so the pandemic was not in the focus of public and political discussion. In the meantime, the gradual calming of the situation regarding the pandemic itself, and primarily the reduction of the number of newly infected and dead, created space for the analysis and assessment of the way the pandemic had been managed.

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Right to free access to information of public importance

Author(s): Rodoljub Šabić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Activism; Serbian Security Policy; Transparency

Although the Law on Free Access to Information is still a very solid instrument for exercising the public’s right to know, i.e. its control over the work of the government, it was clear practically from the very beginning that there was a need to change, supplement and improve it. In the course of 15 years of its implementation, this became increasingly obvious. Unfortunately, the unwillingness of the authorities to respond to this need in an adequate way is equally obvious, and extremely worrying.

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Snakes, rats and drug addicts used to dwell here – analysis of the narrative utilised to capture the state

Author(s): Luka Šterić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Foreign Influence; Serbian Security Policy; State Capture

Due to the way they are contracted and implemented, foreign direct investments represent one of the key mechanisms for capturing the state. Hiding behind the stories of a better future and new jobs, the government is breaking down the system of legal regulations and statutory procedures, promoting private interest to the detriment of the public one, and using foreign investments as propaganda ammunition to legitimise unlimited power. The results of such policy are a number of negative consequences for the state and the citizens, such as the increase of public debt, dramatic violation of workers’ rights and alarming problems with environmental pollution.

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Many Faces of Serbian Foreign Policy Public Opinion and Geopolitical Balancing

Author(s): Maja Bjeloš,Luka Šterić,Vuk Vuksanović / Language(s): English

Keywords: EU, Foreign Influence; Foreign Policy; International Security Cooperation; NATO; Regional Security Cooperation; Serbian Foreign Policy

According to a public opinion survey Serbian citizens identify Russia and China as their greatest friends. As the country's most important foreign policy priorities, citizens recognize preserving Kosovo as part of Serbia, strengthening cooperation with neighboring countries and strengthening cooperation with Russia. More than half of the citizens do not support Serbia's membership in the EU.Most respondents (40%) perceive Russia as Serbia’s best friend, and 72% believe that Russia’s influence in the country is positive, which is an increase of 11% compared to the results of the survey from 2017. Only two percent of people believe that Russia’s attitude towards Serbia is hostile. After Russia, second place on the list of friends is reserved for China (16 percent of respondents). The growth of positive attitudes towards China is especially visible after the beginning of the pandemic, which is proved by the fact that 75% of respondents believe that China provided the most assistance to Serbia in the fight against the pandemic, although there are no official data on the amount of Chinese aid. According to available data, the largest donor was the European Union (EU), and only 3% of Serbian citizens recognize that. In addition, almost 90% of respondents believe that the Chinese influence in the country is positive, which is an increase of over 30 percent compared to the survey from 2017.

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Civil Society against Organised Crime: Roles, Methods and Practices

Author(s): Filip Stojanović / Language(s): English

Keywords: Organised Crime

International legislative framework does not properly recognise the relevance of civil society in the fight against organised crime and does not provide for full civil society participation. As a consequence, the effort of civil society to achieve progress in fighting organised crime and build a strong and stable communication channels for key stakeholders in the public and private sector remains questionable. This is why civil society advocates the revision of the existing international legislative framework. Civil society plays two main roles in tackling the issue of organised crime. It is very useful in exposing illicit organised crime activities, and it can serve as support to criminal justice efforts and reforms in the fight against organised crime. However, the challenge lies in the fact that most civil society organisations are specialised or focused on one specific area of organised crime. They also depend on national situations and donors’ funding availability. On the other hand, civil society can link relevant institutions and the private sector in the fight against organised crime.

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The Security Sector in a Captured State

Author(s): Not Specified Author / Language(s): English

Keywords: State Capture; Deep-seated control; security institutions

State capture is a deliberate political undertaking in which political actors use the consequences (both real and imagined) of the previous government as justification for the complete capture of the state’s institutions. These legitimising narratives are specific to every country and range from fighting crime and corruption, to advancing social justice, preserving national and cultural identities, mythomaniac notions of national origins and so forth. Of course, the narratives can change over time, as evidenced by the example of Serbia, but their essence remains the same: to act as a smokescreen for ever broader and ever deeper capture of the state.In such an endeavor, security sector institutions are among the first targets of political actors, since by increasing and concentrating their security power they are simultaneously increasing their political power. Some security sectors and institutions are also on the receiving end of significant budgetary outlays (e.g. the defence sector and the police), which makes them potentially significant sources of cash flow for the party leadership and those close to them. Deep-seated control of security institutions also ensures the ruling party leadership can redirect public funds into private pockets unhindered.

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The Security Sector in the State of Emergency: Testing Democracy

Author(s): Isidora Stakić,Jelena Pejić Nikić,Katarina Đokić,Marija Ignjatijević / Language(s): English

Keywords: Military; Oversight; Police; Security Services; COVID-19

This analysis by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) concludes that during the 52 days it spent in a state of emergency, Serbia failed the test of democracy, thanks to a series of failings and irregularities in the conduct and control of the security sector.The police did not always conduct themselves professionally, proportionately and as politically neutral agents primarily concerned with the needs and rights of citizens. The criteria on the basis of which the Ministry of the Interior issued permits for movement during the curfew were not prescribed, which is why they were misused during the flare-lighting incident. People who arrived in Serbia before the state of emergency was declared were often not informed that they had been placed under mandatory self-isolation. Police harassment was observed in at least three cases, with the police internal control department reacting publicly only once.

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The 2018 Special Law for State Housing Construction and its Implementation

Author(s): Nemanja Nenadić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Military; Serbian Security Policy; Transparency

The government’s decision in 2017 to embark upon a programme to build housing for members of the security forces was followed by the adoption of a “special law” that governs the implementation of this programme somewhat differently to existing regulations.The government’s decision was not properly justified: either in terms of considering the various financial approaches to solving the same problem, or from the point of view of legal proceedings.A special law was passed in Serbia to legislate construction of government-subsidised flats across Serbia, which employees in the security forces would buy under standard market prices. The government has justified this legislative approach by calling upon national security. However, the Government’s decision to address the housing needs of security sector employees in this way and not through some other measures, was not properly justified. The special law has foreseen numerous deviations from the public procurement legislation for the sake of urgency, but in practice, there have been significant delays in the project implementation. Also, by comparing initial announcements and actual contract values, it could be estimated that the project costs would be up to 20% higher than was envisaged at the beginning. Procurement of construction services was marred by insufficient transparency and dubious phenomena such as discriminatory capacity requirements from bidders and low competition.

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Why Are People Leaving the Serbian Defence System?

Author(s): Marija Ignjatijević,Katarina Đokić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Military; Serbian Defence System;

Although official data on the outflow of personnel from the defence system is not publicly available – the data which is available points to the fact that this problem has become more pronounced in recent years. Members of the Serbian Armed Forces terminate their service of their own volition, not only because they are dissatisfied with their pay, but also because of other factors. This report provides answers for a number of key questions, in terms of the outflow of personnel from the defence system. In the first part, researchers analysed the scale of the problem and attempted to answer the question of who is leaving the system.

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The BIA Fighting an Internal Enemy of the State

Author(s): Predrag Petrović / Language(s): English

Keywords: Security Services; Serbian Security Policy

At a time when corruption is rising in Serbia, the number of professional killings by organized crime groups is growing, extremism and nationalism are on the rise, and many scandals that occupy the media remain without an epilogue, the Security Information Agency (BIA) is fighting internal enemies and as the biggest threat to Serbia’s security highlights one part of the civil society.Contrary to the expectations of the general and professional public, there has been no comprehensive reform of the security sector in Serbia, including security services. Since democratic changes in Serbia in year 2000, there has been a partial and inconsistent reform of the security services and the security-intelligence sector, guided by the wishes and ambitions of the strongest political leaders to control the work of the security services, and not by the desire to make the security services one of the bases for protecting the democratic order proclaimed in the first article of the Serbian Constitution.

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Case Study: Threats and Pressures Faced by Activists and Independent Journalists in Serbia

Author(s): Predrag Petrović / Language(s): English

Keywords: Activism; Serbian Security Policy

Threats and pressures on activists and independent journalists, experience with state authorities, protection measures and necessary help are the topics of the newest case study by BCSP. The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) and individual employees have in recent years been targeted by attacks and threats on several occasions.In this the BCSP is not alone, activists, non-governmental organisations and independent journalists in Serbia are continually exposed to threats and pressures and, not infrequently, physical attacks. This is borne out by research conducted in the summer of 2018 by the BCSP, in cooperation with its partners, in 19 municipalities across Serbia. The aim of that study was to determine the circumstances and constraints that affect participation by citizens, groups and organisations in the defence democracy and resolving publically significant issues through collective action at the local and national levels.

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The Export of Weapons Protects Social Peace in Serbia, Not Peace in the World

Author(s): Katarina Đokić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Accountability; Military; Security Sector Financing; Serbian Security Policy

Domestic legislation sets very strict criteria and a complicated procedure for deciding on arms exports. However, these criteria are not respected in practice. It is therefore no wonder that Serbian weapons occasionally end up in the wrong hands. There are two reasons: export growth is necessary to maintain an increasing ... Domestic legislation sets very strict criteria and a complicated procedure for deciding on arms exports. However, these criteria are not respected in practice. It is therefore no wonder that Serbian weapons occasionally end up in the wrong hands. There are two reasons: export growth is necessary to maintain an increasing number of jobs in the defence industry and the government doesn’t analyze the long-term effects of arms exports to a particular country.

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THE PUBLIC IN SERBIA ON POLICE

Author(s): Saša Đorđević,Bojan Elek / Language(s): English

Keywords: Police; Serbian Security Policy

Trust in the police has been growing in parallel with the perception of corruption and the impression that the work of the police is politicised. This is the main conclusion of the fourth annual public opinion survey "The Citizens’ Opinion of the Police Force" conducted by Belgrade Centre for Security Policy as a member of the regional POINTPULSE network. Six out of ten citizens trust the police (61%), which positions this Serbian institution at the world average: between 60 and 90 percent. At the same time, seven out of ten citizens believe that police officers are corrupt (69%), while three quarters are convinced that their interests are subordinated to those of politics (72%).

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Media and Police in the Western Balkans

Author(s): Saša Đorđević / Language(s): English

Keywords: Police; Serbian Security Policy

The policy paper recommends possible solutions to overcome the current challenges in communication between the police and the media. Media and the police play an important role in the democratization of a society, which is crucial for the Western Balkans, given that the entire region already shows clear elements of “captured state” – systematic and organized process aimed at taking over the resources of a particular country for the purpose of satisfying private instead of public interests. Democratisation requires free and independent media, professional journalism, the willingness of the police to provide the public with objective information about their work without revealing confidential information, and communication between the media andthe police, which provides easier, andensures timely, receipt of information.

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Constitutional reform of Serbian judiciary

Author(s): Marina M. Matić Bošković / Language(s): English

Keywords: Accountability; Serbian Security Policy

Marina Matic Boskovic, Vice President of the Program Council of the Association of Public Prosecutors of Serbia in the new BCSP publication analyzes the standards of independence of the judiciary and to what extent they are achieved in the Working Version of the Draft Amendments to the Constitution. The text analyzes the provisions of the current Constitution and proposes solutions for improving the constitutional position of the judiciary.In the framework of the EU accession negotiations, Serbia has committed to amend the Constitution in the area of judiciaryby the Action Plan for Chapter 23 (Judiciary and fundamental rights) in 2016. The aim of the announced changes is to depoliticize this area and to strengthen the independence of the judiciary as the third branch of government. The elimination of political influence, however, was not the subject of the debate within the consultative process opened by the Ministry of Justice in mid-2017. Therefore, professional associations and civil society organizations soon abandoned this process.

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The position and needs of children and mothers of migrants from Russia in Serbia

Položaj i potrebe dece i majki migranata iz Rusije u Srbiji

Author(s): Tanja Pavlov,Vladimir Petronijević / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Migrant integration; Russian immigrants; Children's education; Social inclusion; Access to rights

Serbia is traditionally a transit country for child and adult refugees and migrants seeking safety and a better life in Europe, traveling along the so-called Balkan route, which is evidenced by the small number of asylum seekers in Serbia. However, Serbia is increasingly becoming a destination country for foreign nationals. During 2023, more than 52,000 work permits were issued to foreign nationals, which is a jump of almost 70% compared to the previous year. The most numerous immigration to the Republic of Serbia in 2022 and 2023 were citizens of the Russian Federation - 22,351 and 41,644 persons, of which 45.6% were women in both years.2 In 2023, 24,068 citizens of the Russian Federation received approval for temporary residence for the first time, which makes up 53% of the approvals issued. Of the total number of approvals issued for the first time to citizens of Russia, 10,768 are on the basis of family reunification, which makes up 78.5% of certificates issued on that basis. Precisely because they are the most numerous immigrant group in Serbia and the largest percentage of all immigrants obtain temporary residence based on family reunification, our intention was to determine to what extent they exercise their basic rights and what is the quality of their integration in Serbia, with a focus on women and children. The research findings should contribute to the improvement of integration mechanisms for all children and adult foreigners in key spheres of social life in Serbia.

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Smuggling of Migrants in the Western Balkans - Monitoring Report

Author(s): / Language(s): English

Keywords: Western Balkans migration; Irregular border crossings; Migrant smuggling; EU external borders

This document presents a comparative analysis of findings from individual monitoring reports compiled by members of the Balkan Migration and Refugee Council, in collaboration with a network of researchers and professionals affiliated with civil society organizations. These members, representing National…

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ANALYSIS IN THE FIELD OF MIGRANT SMUGGLING IN WB COUNTRIES

Author(s): Gordana Grujičić / Language(s): English

Keywords: Migrant smuggling; Western Balkans route; Irregular migration; Border security; Criminal networks

This document is aimed at providing a comprehensive analysis of regional policy and legal framework on the issue of suppression of migrant smuggling within the WB region providing a holistic understanding of the issue. We will analyse the normative framework…

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ANALYSIS IN THE FIELD OF MIGRANT SMUGGLING IN WB COUNTRIES

Analiza u oblasti krijumčarenja migranata u Republici Srbiji

Author(s): Gordana Grujičić / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Migrant smuggling; Western Balkans route; Irregular migration; Border security; Criminal networks

The intention of the document is to, using experiences and collected data from competent institutions and courts, offer a proposal for measures for the reform processes that must be undertaken, as well as a proposal for measures that can contribute to overcoming the current challenges observed in the area of combating migrant smuggling...

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Gender-sensitive policies in the field of migration

Rodno senzitivne politike u oblasti migracija

Author(s): Tamara Stojanović / Language(s): Serbian

Keywords: Gender-based violence; Women in migration; Asylum seekers; Vulnerable groups; Migration policy

Since the outbreak of the migrant crisis in 2015, the Republic of Serbia has been faced with a continuous influx of migrants on its territory, who leave their country of origin primarily because of war, armed conflicts or persecution. Existing statistical data show that women represent a minority in migratory flows and that the majority of asylum seekers in Serbia are men. Nevertheless, women and girls who set out on their way to Europe from distant countries, such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, from their country of origin to Serbia cross a long and arduous journey, which is marked by numerous risks. They are at daily risk of violence, exploitation and similar actions perpetrated on them by criminal groups, smugglers, fellow travelers, and cases of illegal actions by the police of the countries they pass through have also been recorded. They also cross impassable areas, live in unhygienic conditions and face many other challenges, which contribute to the development of temporary or permanent physical or psychological consequences. That is why in the Republic of Serbia, in the last few years, the attention of international and national actors has increasingly been focused on the issue of the position of women and girls within the migrant population and the prevention of gender-based violence. Migrants, asylum seekers, refugee women represent a particularly vulnerable group of migrants in our country. Their vulnerability is conditioned by gender and gender stereotypes, and is most often reflected through the gender roles assigned to them in their countries of origin, the representation of various forms of gender-based violence, and insufficiently adapted services that should respond to their specific needs. In order to look at the unfavorable position of women in migration as comprehensively as possible, it is necessary to understand the traditional heritage, cultural context, as well as the geographical and historical circumstances of the countries from which they come, and then it is necessary to identify the key challenges that women face during the journey, that is, during their stay in certain countries.

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