Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of Serbia’s response to recent demonstrations, including reports of incidents against peaceful protesters; and what steps they have taken to encourage that government to conduct a full, impartial, and swift investigation into reports of violence against demonstrators.

We are closely following developments in Serbia, where large-scale peaceful street protests continue after the tragic collapse of a station canopy last November. When the Minister of State for Europe visited Belgrade in January 2025, he raised the worrying incidents of violence against peaceful protesters. It is important that these incidents are investigated swiftly. The Minister of State for Europe underlined the importance of respect for citizens' rights of freedom of expression and assembly, and of continuing responsible policing of protests. When the Minister of State for Europe visited Belgrade last month, he discussed with the Serbian government and others, the importance of respect for citizens' rights of freedom of expression and assembly, and the importance of peaceful dialogue on all sides.