“The time of impunity is running out”

On Tuesday, 21 October 2025, MEP Irena Joveva took part in a plenary debate on polarisation and growing repression in Serbia one year after the tragedy in Novi Sad, where she stressed that it is time and crucial for the EU to finally stand up for those who stand for true values.

”Bolje ćaci, nego naci,” Joveva began by quoting an infamous slogan that has caught on among supporters of the regime and is said to represent a cynical response to the student uprising that swept across all major Serbian cities last year. The last word carries a dismissive association with Nazism, with which the Vučić regime has been labeling its own citizens, who have been persisting on the streets of various cities across the country for a year.

She went on to explain that the name of the city “Novi Sad” literally means “new now”, which can also serve as a symbol of the protesters’ desire for immediate change and a decent future here and now, not some promised tomorrow. In doing so, Joveva highlighted the grotesque irony of the situation in Serbia:

“Those who order beatings label the beaten as ‘Nazis’. They invent fake students – ćaci, while real students are bleeding for democracy. In reality, these students are the ones who are teaching us a real lesson – a lesson in courage.”

“Now it is our turn to learn the lesson,” she said, emphasizing that the European Union must clearly stand in defense of those who defend democracy, not on the side of those who trample it.

In conclusion, Joveva sent a clear message to the regime in Belgrade that their time of impunity is running out.

“Expect targeted sanctions for everyone who bears responsibility. And don’t rush to write those textbooks. Your forced lesson is over. History will judge you.”