Statement of support:
Musicians Without Borders condemns the violent attack on writer Vladimir Arsenijević (Serbia)
On July 11, writer Vladimir Arsenijević, Creative Director of the KROKODIL Association, with whom Musicians Without Borders has collaborated, was attacked in Belgrade, Serbia, by a group of unknown assailants. This happened at the site where KROKODIL was preparing a commemoration of the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, as part of the People Remember People coalition. Arsenijević was ambushed, and had his phone stolen. The assailants also sprayed graffiti on the bridge glorifying war criminals. The assault on Arsenijević comes in the wake of a crackdown on opposition voices in Serbia.
An award-winning writer, translator and publisher, Arsenijević is a founding member of KROKODIL, an internationally acclaimed association focusing on literature, culture and socio-political programs. Musicians Without Borders has worked with KROKODIL this past year to develop a long-term project promoting ethnic and cultural inclusion through cross-disciplinary co-creation.
We were shocked and dismayed to hear this news. Our thoughts are with Vladimir and the KROKODIL team. Musicians Without Borders calls upon the Serbian authorities to immediately end all attacks on independent media, journalists, academics and other creatives, and calls on international actors to urgently help uphold fundamental rights in Serbia.
