Equality Commissioner Urges Belgrade Mayor to Avoid Hate Speech Online

Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Šapić has been advised by the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality to be mindful of the content he shares on social media, specifically to avoid posts that could incite hatred. This recommendation comes after the Youth Initiative for Human Rights filed a complaint against Šapić.

The controversy erupted on April 18 when Šapić shared a photo of Ratko Mladić, a convicted war criminal, on Facebook and Instagram, labeling him a "Serbian hero" with the Serbian flag emoji. He later told RTS on April 27 that he knew "there isn't a Serb, especially from Republika Srpska, who won't say Mladić was a war hero."

The Youth Initiative argued that Šapić's post constituted hate speech and severe discrimination against Bosniaks and Croats, deeply offending victims and their families. They also warned that glorifying a convicted war criminal could worsen inter-ethnic tensions and undermine the dignity of certain national communities.

The Commissioner's recommendation, issued on June 1, stressed the special responsibility public officials hold in their communication. While the problematic content had already been removed by the time the Commissioner reviewed it, Šapić was formally advised to ensure future posts do not incite hatred. He is required to respond within 30 days, detailing how he has addressed the recommendation.