Major Serbian Publishers Boycott Belgrade Book Fair Over Organizer Dispute

Leading Serbian publishing houses have announced their decision to boycott the upcoming 69th Belgrade Book Fair, according to Nedeljnik. The move signals a significant rift between the publishing industry and the fair's organizers.

Publishers including Laguna, Delfi, Kreativni centar, Čarobna knjiga, Partenon, Pčelica, Dereta, Finesa, IPC Media, and Kontrast have confirmed their non-participation. This decision was communicated to members by the Association of Publishers and Booksellers of Serbia (UIKS) following a board meeting on August 6th.

The core of the dispute appears to be the Belgrade City Assembly's decision to completely exclude publisher representatives from the new Book Fair Board. While some publishers have made their decision, other board members are still deliberating and are expected to finalize their stance by the August 20th registration deadline. Professional publishers like Clio, Arhipelag, and Geopoetika, who did not participate last year, have reiterated their refusal to attend under the current conditions.

The Belgrade International Book Fair is scheduled to take place from October 23rd to 31st. The boycott raises concerns about the future participation and organization of one of Serbia's key cultural events.