Students in blockade expose collusion between Serbian authorities and media and say: It's over when we say it's over

Students in the blockade have posted on their Instagram profile about a series of events that have occurred in recent days, concerning the University of Belgrade.

They made a retrospective of the events, and in their announcement they said - "It's over when we say it's over."

They began their address with the death of a female student on the plateau in front of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, on Thursday, March 26th.

"The death of a student at the Faculty of Philosophy has found the academic community in a state of shock and grief. Instead of responsibility and dignity, something else begins in the first hours after the tragedy. Disturbing photos and videos appear in public, while at the same time unverified, sensationalist and politically motivated claims are being spread. This has violated the dignity of the deceased, her family and the entire academic community. Details and videos appear in pro-regime media that cannot be made available without direct leaks from the investigation. From the first moment, the tragedy is not treated as a question of responsibility, but as material for constructing a narrative," stated Students in Blockade.

They commented on the entry of members of the Criminal Police Administration (UKP) into the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade.

"The next day, that narrative takes a clear direction. The UKP re-enters the Faculty of Philosophy - instead of dealing with the circumstances of the tragedy, the focus is on the students. Plenum documents, minutes, materials related to the student organization in the blockade are sought. During this time, the police are filming, the material appears in the media almost in real time, and the media immediately uses it to shape the story. The Informer program goes a step further, reading the autopsy report, a document that must remain protected. Someone submitted it. Someone decided to read it. This clearly shows the connection between institutions and the media. On the same day, without a single piece of evidence, the students in the blockade and the academic community are labeled as responsible," they stated.

"In an atmosphere where they are already being publicly targeted, students continue organizing for the local elections on March 29th. Mobile teams and legal teams are being formed, logistics are being established, and they are going to municipalities across Serbia. Despite the pressure, the process is not stopping, the presence on the ground is expanding, and the decision to participate remains firm," the students stated.

They also commented on election day in Serbia, March 29th, as well as the view of that day from the perspective of students.

"Election day is taking place in an atmosphere of open pressure. Students from the field, including students from the Faculty of Philosophy, are being invited to informative interviews throughout the day. There are arrests, detentions, beatings and intimidation, both at and outside polling stations. Pressure is also being directed at professors. What has been building in the media for days is now taking its direct form on the ground," the students stated.

"The election results are being announced. Despite pressure, fraud and numerous irregularities, the largest drop in support for the Serbian Progressive Party in recent times has been recorded. At the same time, student lists are achieving results that exceed the achievements of any actor since the Serbian Progressive Party came to power. Instead of calming down, the pressure is intensifying. The autonomy of universities is being openly questioned in public, and the academic community continues to present itself as a problem. The tragedy is no longer used as an excuse, but as an excuse," write Students in Blockade.

They also referred to yesterday's event, the UKP's raid on the Rectorate building and the protest that followed later that day.

"The Rectorate building of the University of Belgrade becomes a place of direct intervention. Members of the UKP enter the Rectorate, although there is no clear explanation on what grounds. The Faculty of Philosophy, which has already been searched, is also entered through the Rectorate. The police go straight to the rooms used for plenum activities, rummaging through every box, every corner and every paper. First aid equipment, which was shamelessly presented as "paramilitary", was also confiscated, and saline solutions were characterized as weapons. There are also students who have classes in the Rectorate - professors are allowed to leave, students are not. They are kept in the building, their IDs are asked, and their movement is restricted. Gatherings and clashes with the police occur in front of the Rectorate. The university ceases to be an autonomous space - it becomes a space of control," they stated.

"From tragedy, to media shaping, to institutional power, the sequence is clear. Tragedy is used to create guilt. Guilt to justify pressure. Pressure to break the community. But the community is not broken. What has existed through all these days, months, more than a year - is not fear. It is solidarity, resistance and the decision not to give up. This process does not end when the pressure reaches its peak. It ends when we say it is over," concluded Students in Blockade.