Serbia expels Italian researcher Massimo Moratti

Serbian authorities have denied a residency permit to Massimo Moratti, an Italian researcher and human rights activist, and ordered him to leave the country. The decision, which includes a one-year ban on re-entry, was based on what officials described as ‘unacceptable security risks to the country,’ though no specific details were provided.

Moratti is a senior research affiliate for Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) and a member of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium. He has worked in the Balkan region for over two decades and has resided in Belgrade since 2022.

International organizations, including the Council of Europe’s Platform to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and the International Federation of Journalists, have condemned the move. They suggest the expulsion may be an administrative retaliation for Moratti’s work documenting media freedom, social tensions, and human rights in Serbia. Moratti has filed an appeal against the decision.