Vladimir ARSENIJEVIĆ & other staff of KROKODIL
On 20 September 2024 at around 4pm, a group of Russian-speaking men wearing clothes with far-right Serbian imagery, entered the premises of the KROKODIL Centre for Contemporary Literature in Belgrade, took down a Ukrainian flag and intimidated staff. KROKODIL, which notably set up the first Ukrainian library in Serbia, hosted Ukrainian writers and delivered humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and is one of the few associations in Serbia that actively denounces Russian propaganda. Although KROKODIL staff reported the incident to the police and provided high-resolution security camera footage, no progress had been reported in the investigation as of 31 December 2024.
Disturbingly, in October 2024, an activist with KROKODIL was invited to the Serbian Security Information Agency to provide information about the incident. Their phone was left unattended outside the interview room during the meeting. A subsequent forensic analysis by Amnesty International found evidence that the NoviSpy Android spyware had been installed on their phone during that time.
Set up in 2009 with the aim of building bridges in the Western Balkans, KROKODIL is an internationally acclaimed association focusing on literature, culture and socio-political programmes, which hosts a renowned annual literary festival in Belgrade. Its president and creative director is Vladimir Arsenijević, an award-winning writer, translator and publisher.
KROKODIL has faced systematic and sustained pressure from the Serbian authorities since its inception, with threats soaring following the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The office is often vandalized, and offensive graffiti is painted on its outside walls. In an alarming move, the authorities filed 28 misdemeanor charges to date against KROKODIL and its staff, for removing hateful graffiti in Belgrade and other cities in Serbia. KROKODIL set up a SLAPP Back Fund, relying on private donations to cover mounting legal fees. Staff have also reported receiving threats of physical violence – including sexual violence – and death threats. Despite regularly informing the relevant authorities, impunity persists, encouraging further threats and attacks.