The functioning of democratic institutions in Serbia

In the draft resolution, paragraph 5, replace the words after "since 2000" with the following words:

“, in particular where such elections have been used as a mechanism for political advantage, and urges the Serbian authorities to ensure that early elections, where called, are conducted in accordance with the Constitution and under conditions that allow democratically elected members of parliament to carry out their tasks according to democratic standards.”

In the draft resolution, paragraph 8, after the second sentence, insert the following sentence:

"The highest State officials, politicians of the governing majority, and the property of ruling political parties, law enforcement officers, and the premises of State institutions were also subjected to attacks by violent protesters".

In the draft resolution, replace paragraph 11 with the following paragraph:

"The Assembly calls on the authorities to conduct an investigation into the events surrounding the alleged use of a sonic weapon during the mass demonstration in Belgrade on 15 March 2025".

In the draft resolution, paragraph 12, second sentence, replace the words "irregularities, including accusations of vote buying, parallel voter lists, and photographing ballots" with the following word:

"tensions".

In the draft resolution, paragraph 13, first sentence, replace the word "unaddressed" with the following words:

"in the process of alignment and implementation".

In the draft resolution, replace paragraph 14 with the following paragraph:

“The Assembly notes that, on 20 May 2026, some controversial amendments to the Law on the Election of the President of the Republic, the Law on the Constitutional Court, the Law on Election of Members of Parliament, and the Law on Local Elections were adopted in parliament. The Assembly calls on the authorities to ensure that the reform of electoral legislation is in line with international electoral standards and to repeal any legislative provisions that would violate these standards.”

In the draft resolution, paragraph 16, replace the last sentence with the following sentence:

“It was also concerned that the laws were adopted without public consultation”.

In the draft resolution, paragraph 17, replace the first three sentences with the following sentence:

“The Assembly calls on Serbian authorities to amend the “Mrdić laws” as soon as possible, in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission and to pursue further reform of the judiciary and prosecution services in line with Council of Europe standards”.

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 18, insert the following paragraphs:

"The Assembly deplores the continued absence of any accountability for the armed attack at Banjska, Kosovo, on 24 September 2023, in which Kosovan Police Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed. It notes with grave concern that Milan Radoičić, former Vice-President of Srpska Lista, who publicly admitted orchestrating and leading the attack, remains at liberty in Serbia. Despite President Vučić’s refusal to extradite him to Kosovo and his assurance that Serbian judicial authorities would themselves investigate and prosecute, no indictment has been brought against Mr Radoičić in the more than two years since the Serbian investigation was opened. The Assembly considers that this prolonged inaction, set against the conviction of other perpetrators by the Kosovo courts, amounts to a failure of justice and raises serious concerns of de facto State protection of a self-confessed organiser of a deadly attack. The Assembly further recalls that the Banjska attack was a grave assault on regional stability and the rule of law. It calls on Serbia to co-operate fully and without further delay with all relevant judicial proceedings, to ensure that all those responsible, including Mr Radoičić, are brought to justice whether through extradition or domestic prosecution, and to demonstrate through measurable results its commitment to the Council of Europe standards on accountability and the fight against impunity."

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 19, insert the following paragraph:

"The Assembly regrets Serbia's continued efforts to oppose Kosovo's accession to the Council of Europe despite Opinion 302 (2024), by which the Assembly recommended Kosovo's membership. The Assembly reiterates its view that Kosovo's accession would strengthen the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law and would contribute to stability and co-operation in the region."

In the draft resolution, paragraph 21, second sentence, after the words "smear campaigns against”, insert the following words:

"highest State officials, political leaders,"

In the draft resolution, paragraph 22, replace the first sentence with the following sentence:

"Therefore, the Assembly urges the authorities to ensure a conducive environment for work of civil society activists, human rights defenders, journalists, and independent media outlets and the exercise of the right to freedom of association and expression in general, and not to take any legislative measure that would restrict these freedoms."

In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 24, insert the following words:

"with fully independent persons capable of upholding media pluralism, including in the assessment of media ownership transfers."