Serbia

Serbia regularly reports data on hate crimes to ODIHR. Serbia's Criminal Code contains a general penalty enhancement provision and a substantive offence provision. The data reported to ODIHR also include cases of incitement to hatred, individual defamation, other hate speech offences, discrimination and the violation of equality. Serbia's Prosecutor's Office collects data on hate crime.

How hate crime data is collected in Serbia

How hate crime data is collected in Serbia

There is no specific system in place for the police recording of hate crimes.

The recording of hate crimes is conducted in all 83 public prosecutor offices in accordance with official guidelines. There is an instruction that defines record keeping on hate crimes within the meaning of the aggravating circumstance under Article 54a of the Criminal Code, including on providing a specific indication of the motive of the criminal offence. Under General Compulsory Instruction O.br. 4/2018 of 28 September 2018, each Prosecutor's Office includes a prosecutor appointed as a contact point, who is tasked with collecting information and issuing quarterly reports on activities regarding hate crimes to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

In addition to hate crimes, the Prosecutor's Office records the criminal offences of incitement to ethnic, racial and religious hatred and intolerance (Article 317 of the Criminal Code), racial and other discrimination (Article 387 of the Criminal Code), as well as other criminal offences covered in the Criminal Code.

The Public Prosecutor's Office and competent public prosecutor's offices co-operate with relevant civil society organizations on the basis of signed protocols. Regular co-ordination meetings are held, involving representatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office, representatives of other competent state bodies and civil society organisations to prevent hate crimes in the Republic of Serbia. These meetings are held twice a year and are organized by the Office for Human Rights and Minority Rights of the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the OSCE Mission to Serbia. Opinions are exchanged at the co-ordination meetings with the representatives of the civil sector, who point out cases that, in their opinion, represent hate crimes. In addition to the aforementioned normative regulations, the Guidelines for the Prosecution of Hate Crimes in the Republic of Serbia are also important for the actions of public prosecutors.

Access more information at the Legislation Online website Legislationline TANDIS Access more information at the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System (TANDIS) website

OFFICIAL DATA

Year Hate crimes recorded by police Prosecuted Sentenced
2019 86 14 10
2018 61 12 7
2017 5 0 0
2016 9 1 2
2015 79 7 19
2014 87 21 14
2013 64 24 16
2012 36 39 37
2011 39 36 24
2010 37 35 13
2009 82 16 44

About 2010 Data

    Figures refer only to crimes of incitement to hatred.

Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See

Reports

Anti-Roma hate crime

Chachipe reported one arson attack that targeted a Roma settlement. The Regional Center for Minorities reported one physical assault, one case of arson and three cases of graffiti. In addition, four nights of rioting took place that targeted a Roma community and involved harassment, damage to property and arson. The riots occurred following a murder perpetrated by a Roma man. Six people were arrested and convicted and sentenced for orchestrating the riots, and the Roma man was convicted and sentenced for the murder.

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Anti-LGBTI hate crime

Labris reported two serious physical assaults and an attack by a group on participants and bystanders at a pride march, in which 160 people were reported to have been injured. Labris reported that 83 people were charged for their alleged involvement in the attack at the gay pride parade. Labris reported two other physical assaults causing serious bodily injury

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INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Hate crime against Christians and members of other religions

In Milanović v. Serbia, for the first time the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) referenced the duty of officials to investigate a religiously motivated crime. The Court stated that, just as in the case of “racially motivated attacks, when investigating violent incidents, State authorities have the additional duty to take all reasonable steps to unmask any religious motive and to establish whether or not religious hatred or prejudice may have played a role in the events.” The case concerned a leading member of the Vaishnava Hindu religious community, also known as Hare Krishna, who suffered a series of attacks between 2001 and 2007. 

KEY OBSERVATION

No information is available.