European court halts forced eviction in Voždovac, Serbia, offering families temporary relief

Families living at a bus depot in Voždovac, Serbia, have received a temporary reprieve from forced eviction thanks to an intervention by the European Court of Human Rights. The court issued a temporary measure against the Serbian government, prohibiting the eviction of the families. The initiative A11, which brought the issue to the court's attention, believes that without this European intervention, the demolition would have proceeded without warning.

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There is still tension among us because, after all, your roof over your head is threatened, even though the deadline has been postponed. But the thought of demolition can still happen, yet we hope in the system and the state to resolve this properly.

Residents expressed a mix of relief and lingering tension. "There is still tension among us because, after all, your roof over your head is threatened, even though the deadline has been postponed," said Miljan Ristić, a resident. "But the thought of demolition can still happen, yet we hope in the system and the state to resolve this properly."

The temporary measure is valid until September 1. Uroš Ranđelović from initiative A11 explained that the court in Strasbourg has posed questions to the Serbian government, focusing on the inclusivity of the process and whether alternative accommodation was offered to the families. This intervention has shifted the dynamic, with local authorities now engaging with the residents. "We see that representatives from the city municipality also came to the settlement today, we heard that the commissioner for the protection of equality was also there. Finally, someone is considering that these are people who have the right to adequate housing like everyone else," Ranđelović stated.

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We see that representatives from the city municipality also came to the settlement today, we heard that the commissioner for the protection of equality was also there. Finally, someone is considering that these are people who have the right to adequate housing like everyone else.

Ranđelović added that the involvement of a third party significantly increases the chances of the families being housed. He contrasted this with a scenario where authorities might have treated their homes as "communal waste" and the residents as "unknown persons," leaving them with no housing options. Ristić shared past experiences of being given short notice to leave, emphasizing the desire for basic human dignity. "We are just asking for what we should receive as every human being on this planet. It cannot be nice for anyone to live in a shack. And we are all aware that we are bothering someone here, but we will not remain silent about someone wanting to throw us onto the street," he said. The settlement houses 11 families, including children, the elderly, and the sick, who have lived there for at least five years.

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We are just asking for what we should receive as every human being on this planet. It cannot be nice for anyone to live in a shack. And we are all aware that we are bothering someone here, but we will not remain silent about someone wanting to throw us onto the street.