MASA strongly condemns the nationalist attack on three professors of the Faculty of Political Sciences of the University of Belgrade (FPN), whose photos were taken on March 16, 2023. year appeared on posters in the Belgrade area, on which they present themselves as traitors to the Serbian people. This was preceded by inscriptions in the yellow press, which, according to the already established model of targeting and spin, falsely accused the FPN of recognizing Kosovo.
Professors FPN, Jelena Lončar, Marko Veković and Stefan Surlić are young, hardworking and respected members of the academic community. Together with several other researchers from Serbia, they participated in the academic exchange project. This project enabled researchers and teachers from Belgrade institutes and faculties to conduct research at Pristina faculties and institutes and vice versa. The project was supposed to end with a final meeting in Belgrade, where all researchers would have the opportunity to present their research. The rally was canceled in the meantime, but that didn't stop the unknown perpetrators from continuing the senseless accusations of treason against our colleagues.
MASA firmly believes that academic exchange is one of the important institutions of modern science, because it allows scientists to follow and learn what other scientists are doing, and learn from each other. Science cannot progress if scientists close themselves within their institutions. University professors and scientists do not have the authority to recognize other countries. Accusing scientists and university professors of treason because they want to get out of their institutions and find out what others are doing is not only offensive and dangerous, but also a crime against honor and reputation.
MASA demands that the police and the prosecutor's office immediately launch an investigation into the aforementioned actions and prosecute the perpetrators.
Coordination Board of MASA
Belgrade, 16.3.2023.
