Serbia sees increase in queer attacks and politicized criminal cases

In Belgrade, a transgender woman on a city bus was verbally abused, assaulted, and stabbed with a sharp object, sustaining injuries to her shin and eye. The incident is part of a broader rise in violence against LGBTQ+ individuals in Serbia, which NGOs say is linked to nationalist rhetoric. The organization Da Se Zna! documented 110 attacks on queer people last year, describing the pattern as a systemic problem with few prosecutions.

Separately, journalist Jasmina Paunović asserts that a criminal complaint filed against her and co‑host Dejan Lučić for alleged hate speech is politically motivated. She criticizes the public prosecutor Nenad Stefanović for using the law to target dissenters, arguing the case reflects broader pressures as Serbia seeks European Union membership. Both incidents highlight concerns over political repression and human‑rights protections in the country.