Foreign Nationals Prepare Joint Appeal Against Expulsion from Serbia
If not addressed in Serbia, the appeal will be taken to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Foreign nationals who were recently expelled from Serbia are preparing a joint legal appeal, according to Aleksandar Maršalevski, a legal adviser and law professor at the University of Zagreb.
The appeal is set to be submitted to the Serbian Administrative Court within 15 days of the expulsion, Maršalevski told Radio Free Europe.
The Serbian authorities expelled several foreign activists from the country, citing security concerns.
These individuals were participants in a workshop organized by Erste Bank in Belgrade.
Following their interrogation on January 21 regarding their activities in Serbia, they were banned from re-entering the country for one year.
Maršalevski argues that the expulsions constitute "political persecution" and violated legal procedures.
Maršalevski contends that the activists were detained without explanation and were not given a valid legal basis or an opportunity to appeal against the entry ban, which he claims infringes on their rights to private and family life.
"The police's decision to expel them did not meet the legal requirements necessary for such an action," Maršalevski stated.
Attempts by Radio Free Europe to obtain comments from the Serbian Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Security Information Agency (BIA), have thus far received no response.
The Croatian government reported that five of its nationals were among those expelled and has issued a protest note to Serbia, advising its citizens to reconsider travel plans to the country.
The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Croatia's response as inappropriate, asserting that the individuals were treated in accordance with legal and international standards.
The European Union has expressed concern over Serbia's actions.
This recent expulsion follows a pattern over the past year where Serbian authorities have denied entry to several foreign nationals, including public figures and political leaders from neighboring countries who have been critical of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's administration.
In the backdrop of widespread anti-government protests and student demonstrations, Serbian officials have alleged that Western intelligence and NGOs are orchestrating efforts to destabilize the government.
The appeal is set to be submitted to the Serbian Administrative Court within 15 days of the expulsion, Maršalevski told Radio Free Europe.
The Serbian authorities expelled several foreign activists from the country, citing security concerns.
These individuals were participants in a workshop organized by Erste Bank in Belgrade.
Following their interrogation on January 21 regarding their activities in Serbia, they were banned from re-entering the country for one year.
Maršalevski argues that the expulsions constitute "political persecution" and violated legal procedures.
Maršalevski contends that the activists were detained without explanation and were not given a valid legal basis or an opportunity to appeal against the entry ban, which he claims infringes on their rights to private and family life.
"The police's decision to expel them did not meet the legal requirements necessary for such an action," Maršalevski stated.
Attempts by Radio Free Europe to obtain comments from the Serbian Ministries of the Interior and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Security Information Agency (BIA), have thus far received no response.
The Croatian government reported that five of its nationals were among those expelled and has issued a protest note to Serbia, advising its citizens to reconsider travel plans to the country.
The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Croatia's response as inappropriate, asserting that the individuals were treated in accordance with legal and international standards.
The European Union has expressed concern over Serbia's actions.
This recent expulsion follows a pattern over the past year where Serbian authorities have denied entry to several foreign nationals, including public figures and political leaders from neighboring countries who have been critical of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić's administration.
In the backdrop of widespread anti-government protests and student demonstrations, Serbian officials have alleged that Western intelligence and NGOs are orchestrating efforts to destabilize the government.
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