Serbian party alleges professor is persecuted for defending university autonomy

The Green-Left Front (ZLF) party has accused authorities of persecuting Milutin Kostić, a coordinator for its Political Council, for his defense of university autonomy. Kostić, an associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, has allegedly faced months of pressure, including attempts to challenge his doctorate and his removal as head of a hospital department.

According to ZLF, these pressures intensified after the Faculty of Medicine went on strike in May to support students, and following the dismissal of the dean and the appointment of an interim administration. The party stated that after Kostić appeared on a television program, the Serbian Ethics Committee initiated a review of his scientific work related to his doctoral dissertation.

ZLF claims that documents used in this review originated from the same computer, prompting their legal team to prepare a criminal complaint. The party views this as a pattern of authorities intimidating, persecuting, and legally exhausting experts who oppose them. They argue this situation endangers the healthcare system, as Kostić is forced to defend himself against what they deem baseless accusations instead of treating patients.

The ZLF party asserts it will continue advocating for the protection of university autonomy, the rule of law, and accountability for those involved in persecuting experts. They believe the current actions threaten academic freedom and the integrity of higher education institutions.