The Year Behind Us: Words That Heal, Solidarity That Protects, and Bridges That Connect // Happy Holidays!

30 Dec The Year Behind Us: Words That Heal, Solidarity That Protects, and Bridges That Connect // Happy Holidays!

Dear friends, colleagues, and associates of the KROKODIL Association,

As the lights of 2025 slowly dim, and we prepare to step into a new chapter, we feel the need to pause and reflect. Not just on dates and numbers, but on the faces, conversations, and moments that defined the past twelve months. For us at KROKODIL, this was a year where we fought on multiple fronts: with words and concrete actions against the culture of violence, with solidarity against institutional repression, and by building bridges of support and understanding across Europe.

TEAM STRENGTHENING: OLGA KAVRAN JOINS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The year 2025 also brought us a significant team expansion, which makes us immensely proud and happy. In November, our association became richer with another prominent member of the Board of Directors – Olga Kavran! Welcome, Olga! After so many years of collaboration, expertise exchange, and friendship, we are very happy to take our relationship to a new level and look forward to you joining us.

On Friday, November 14, 2025, a regular assembly of the KROKODIL Association was held at the KROKODIL Center, where the decision to appoint new Board members for a four-year term was adopted by public vote. The new Board of Directors consists of: Vladimir Arsenijević, Olga Kavran, Igor Štiks, Dubravka Stojanović, Boris Buden, Milena Berić, and Olga Manojlović Pintar.

Olga Kavran is a lawyer and the founder of IUSTICOM, the first non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting legal accountability mechanisms. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies at the Free University of Brussels, where she focuses on the obligation of international criminal courts to provide information to the public. With over 25 years of experience in international criminal law, as a translator, Deputy Public Information Coordinator, and Spokesperson for the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (1997-2010), and as Head of Public Affairs at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (2010-2020), Olga brings invaluable knowledge and inexhaustible energy to our organization. She also has extensive teaching experience and has published numerous works on international criminal courts. Her peace activist past, including organizing student protests in Belgrade during the nineties, makes her ideal for KROKODIL’s mission.

A YEAR OF CHALLENGES: REPRESSION AND ATTACKS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH

The year 2025 began with more intense government repression, which escalated throughout the year, testing our commitment to democratic values and freedom of speech.

The context of these events was marked by a series of serious incidents that began in late 2024. On Friday, September 20, 2024, a group of foreign nationals speaking Russian burst into the offices of the KROKODIL Association. While employees were at their desks, the hooligans cut the ties on the terrace holding the Ukrainian flag, while one group member prevented employees from inspecting the premises. This intrusion, along with the earlier removal of the Palestinian flag, represented the culmination of a series of over thirty attacks on the KROKODIL Association since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine. It was a clear act of intimidation and a message that violent groups, even when not from our country, feel safe and free to threaten the work of an association registered in Serbia. Although the police were called, the patrol from Stari Grad Police Department did not even file a report this time.

Following this incident, an even more alarming event occurred. After the intrusion by Russian hooligans, Milena Berić, KROKODIL’s director, demanded accountability from institutions, and in an unusual turn of events, found herself under illegal surveillance. In October 2024, while attending a meeting at the BIA (Security-Information Agency) premises regarding the aforementioned attack, the NoviSpy spyware was installed on her phone. This was confirmed by an Amnesty International report dated December 17, 2024, titled “A Digital Prison: Surveillance and Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia,” which detailed the use of advanced spyware by Serbian police and intelligence services against activists and journalists. Despite this evidence and a year later, no institution – neither embassies, nor international organizations, nor the Ministry of Internal Affairs, nor the Security-Information Agency – has taken responsibility for such a blatant case of illegal spying. The KROKODIL Association continued to pay the loan for a new phone, and all employees feel uneasy every time an unknown person enters the KROKODIL Center, which also houses a Ukrainian library.

The year 2025 continued in a similar vein. As early as January 21, in Belgrade, plainclothes police detained several individuals, citizens of Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Romania, and Albania. Among them was our colleague from the WHW organization from Zagreb, which deals with contemporary art. These civil society workers came to our country to participate in the Erste Academy program. They were held at the police station for several hours, questioned about their education, universities, and reasons for coming. After that, they were forced to sign a document in Cyrillic that most did not understand, stating that their stay constituted an “unacceptable security risk for the Republic of Serbia.” Those detained were given twenty-four hours to leave Serbia, with a ban on entry for the next year. We, as a community of free and solidarity-minded cultural workers, sharply condemned this cowardly, unlawful, and malicious treatment, recognizing in it a dangerous attempt to intimidate citizens and strengthen the narrative of “foreign agents.” We refuse to accept that the noblest values – cooperation, respect, solidarity, and appreciation – are punished, and our guests, colleagues, and friends are mistreated and expelled from our country without any reason. Therefore, we demanded an apology from the state of Serbia and the annulment of these shameful decisions.

Such attacks, unfortunately, continued. On March 8, we joined the general strike, and on March 15, at a large protest in Belgrade, KROKODIL Association President Vladimir Arsenijević displayed flags of Ukraine and Palestine along with activists carrying EU and Georgian flags. This intention to establish some kind of balance with the entire range of right-wing symbols that had successfully hijacked the student protest from within, and to simultaneously send a message about this movement as open, inclusive, and interested in global dynamics as well as Serbia’s place in the modern world, was unfortunately brutally and aggressively thwarted. Less than a month later, Milena Berić experienced another wave of attacks, threats, and targeting due to her appearance on the morning program of TV Nova, where she, along with another guest, Bosnian-Herzegovinian actor and author Feđa Štukan, commented on the expulsion of Italian pianist Davide Martello and other similar situations in which the authorities crack down on artists for supporting democratic processes. Milena Berić then problematized the presence of “war veterans” guarding protests and the existence of videos of “citizen arrests” at the March 15 protests, while emphasizing that, despite everything, they still see the protests as “the most democratic thing that has happened to us in the last 12 years” and that the KROKODIL Association wholeheartedly supports the students despite all the worrying dynamics that could no longer be ignored or minimized. Although she once again stressed that young people should not be blamed for ignorance, but rather the political elites responsible for covering up crimes and creating an auto-victimizing fantasy about the wars of the nineties, immediately after the broadcast, an orchestrated campaign of attacks followed, in which, unfortunately, student bodies sided with those who systematically distort the truth about Serbian participation in the wars of the nineties. We at the KROKODIL Association strongly support our director Milena Berić and stand in defense of elementary ethical values that call us to constantly strive for truth, no matter how painful it may be. We warn that a better future cannot be entered alongside actors of an unpleasant past, which our society has not been able to confront for a full quarter-century. The KROKODIL Association was founded as a platform for rebuilding war-torn connections, and for two full decades, it has been working to engage culture and literature in that mission. In the society we live in, we face threats and various forms of systemic violence daily, but we believe that the future will offer a more tolerant and inclusive environment for building a far more harmonious and advanced society than the one we have lived in for so long.

At the end of 2024, after the publication of the Amnesty International report, 10 civil society organizations from Serbia initiated concrete proceedings before competent domestic and international institutions, filing criminal charges and requests for investigation, and addressing the United Nations Special Rapporteurs. The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held a meeting on March 3, 2025, dedicated to the use of spyware and secret state surveillance, where Dušan Pokuševski from the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and Milena Berić presented key evidence of the misuse of digital forensic tools by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the BIA. Personal stories of victims of illegal spying and invasive digital surveillance were presented, causing serious concern within the European Union. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will prepare a resolution on these developments, and rapporteur Axel Schäfer called on Serbian authorities to cease the use of invasive software and provide legal remedies to victims.

SUPPORT FOR CIVIC PROTESTS: WHO IS BOTHERED BY BOOKS?

Throughout 2025, we continued to support civic protests, students, pupils, and their professors – all those who see the KROKODIL Association as their partner sharing the same values.

On Tuesday, October 28, at the invitation of students and professors from Sombor, we joined in supporting local bookseller Boba. At the plateau in front of the Faculty of Pedagogy in Sombor, a Book Bazaar and a panel discussion “Culture vs. Lack of Culture” were organized, where we publicly supported Slobodan Stepanović, better known as Boba, and his right to free trade. In previous days, protests were held in Sombor to support the bookseller, who, after more than a decade, was denied the opportunity to sell books at stalls on Zmaj Jovina Street. Boba, who had regularly renewed his request for occupying public space, received a rejection from the city department, which he interpreted as a consequence of his active participation in protests and the Sombor Citizens’ Assembly. Under the slogan “Books, not bells and whistles,” books and donations were collected at the Bazaar to support Slobodan’s continued work.

8. MARCH: MARCHING, STRIKING, AND RESISTING TOGETHER!

Traditionally, on this 8th of March, we participated in organizing the International Women’s Day march in Belgrade as part of the self-organized group “8.march.every.day”. Under the motto “Without us, the world stops! Workers – peasants – students,” we reminded everyone of the key role of women in society and demanded respect for labor and human rights. The march was an opportunity to highlight the erosion of women’s labor rights, unpaid domestic work that is worth a third of the state budget, as well as the difficult position of women in rural areas. Structural violence against female students during protests was also emphasized. Right-wing policies, based on patriarchy and capitalism, attempt to confine the role of women to the private sphere, but we, in the fighting tradition of our ancestors who defeated fascism, showed that we lead labor, environmental, and pacifist struggles. Solidarity was expressed with women from war-torn areas in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, and Congo. The gathering in Republic Square and the march were a strong message in the fight for complete gender equality, as “March 8 for everyone in the world should not mean more than a greeting and a flower!”

On the same day, March 8, we presented the literature of the Western Balkans in Mannheim, Germany, at the Lesen.Hören festival. Our program “Spaces of Freedom: A Showcase of Contemporary Literary Creativity from Southeast Europe” was sold out, demonstrating clear interest in the region’s literature. Four authors – Adelina Teršani (Kosovo), Rumena Bužarovska (North Macedonia), Goran Vojnović (Slovenia), and Damir Karakaš (Croatia) – presented their works through readings and brief interviews, and the program was complemented by a mini-concert by Ana Ćurčin. The program was realized in cooperation with the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb). In October, we continued to showcase regional literature at the Konrad Festival in Krakow, Poland, where there was also significant audience interest in authors from Southern Europe. After exceptionally successful presentations of the literature of the Western Balkans at the Berlin Literary Festival in September 2024 and various appearances throughout this year, we promise to remain dedicated to promoting our regional literature in Europe throughout 2026.

XVII KROKODIL FESTIVAL: UNDER PRESSURE, WITH SREBRENICA IN OUR HEARTS

The seventeenth edition of the KROKODIL Festival, held from June 27 to 29, 2025, in front of the Museum of Yugoslavia, was marked by the slogan “Under Pressure” – under pressure, but together. While the country trembled with voices that had been suppressed for too long, and the street became a station where young people wrote sentences they couldn’t find in textbooks, we chose to write, create, and erase the boundaries between art and real life.

The festival offered three days of diverse content: morning and afternoon programs in the Debate, Children’s, Workshop, and Film Zones, as well as an evening literary-musical show on the main stage. We hosted many prominent names, including Dragan Markovina, Hanan Faour, Margo Rejmer, Filip Grujić, Iya Kiva, Dinko Gruhonjić, Marko Vidojković, Sara Stridsberg, Barbi Marković, Dragan Velikić, Radmila Petrović, Dorota Masłowska, as well as numerous activist initiatives such as Tampon Zona and Kritički.

However, this edition of the festival was the target of an intense smear campaign of defamation, and attacks, misused by the authorities to settle scores with dissidents, students, and the opposition. The campaign began five days before the festival, when the program dedicated to commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide was announced. This triggered an avalanche of negative, manipulative, and offensive media reports, followed by online threats, harassment, and physical attacks on the premises of the KROKODIL Association.

Just two days before the start of the festival, the Museum of Yugoslavia received a directive from the Ministry of Culture to officially distance itself from the central KROKODIL event. On the opening day, when technical production began setting up stage equipment, the Ministry of Culture explicitly demanded the disconnection of power cables. Thanks to colleagues from the non-governmental sector, a generator was procured, and the festival was realized. On the same day, while the authorities were obstructing the festival, we received an invitation for a meeting with representatives of the authorities and EU embassies, which we used to directly point out the situation and seek support that would lead to an end to the violence.

One of the main “red flags” for this reaction from the authorities was precisely the program dedicated to commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. It included screenings of documentary and feature films, recordings of theater performances, and the promotion of Dragan Popović’s book “Losing Humanity.” Tabloid and pro-regime media, which completely ignored the presence of participants from Kosovo and Ukraine, intensively targeted the festival, especially after the news arrived on July 1 about the acquittal of a former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska of charges for the crime in Srebrenica, thereby creating a “smokescreen” for the public.

Attorney Miloš Janković confirmed that media statements about the festival violated standards of good media practice and the Law on Public Information, and that all legal means would be taken to protect the honor and reputation of the KROKODIL Association and its employees.

In memory of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide, the KROKODIL Association, together with a temporary coalition of related organizations under the aegis “People Remember People,” through books, discussions, theater performances, films, street events, and performances, called for respect for the dignity of the victims and the preservation of the memory of the names and lives of those who are no longer with us.

MAIN FOCUS OF 2025: THE PROJECT “WHY DO YOU SAY LOVE WHEN YOU MEAN WAR?”

In 2025, the KROKODIL Association continued its dedicated fight against the normalization of violence through the third year of implementing one of our most important projects – “Why Do You Say Love When You Mean War?”

The goal of this endeavor was clear and urgent: community engagement, education, and raising awareness about the dangers of undue influence on the rise of violence, aggression, and the glorification of war crimes that have permeated all pores of our society. Our research showed that the roots of the “culture of violence” lie in the never-processed traumas of the wars of the nineties, which resulted in the aesthetic-ideological pollution of our cities and the misuse of younger generations. The project was realized with key support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Belgrade through the MATRA program, the EU Delegation to Serbia, and in its second phase, it ensured continuity through partnership with UNDP.

Our impact in numbers speaks for itself: over 25 organized events, more than 2,500 direct participants, and a presence in over 20 cities.

Throughout spring and summer, our team toured Serbia, bringing dialogue where it is most needed – to local communities, schools, and cultural centers.

In Velika Plana, on June 5, we gathered citizens, students, and high school students on the plateau in front of the “Masuka” Cultural Center. A special focus was on working with young people from marginalized groups. Through workshops, students critically reflected on hate graffiti and created their own stencils with messages of tolerance, proving that they too can be agents of positive change. We enjoyed talking and working with everyone, especially focusing on the hate messages that often mark public spaces and walls of our cities. We broke down prejudices, learned about critical thinking, and moving beyond familiar cognitive frameworks so readily imposed by ruling structures.

In Belgrade, on May 28, at the KROKODIL Center, in cooperation with the Orhideja Association, we held a touching and important workshop dedicated to children and young people from vulnerable groups, who are often deprived of positive, affirmative content and activities. The aim of the workshop was to encourage reflection on the role of art and community in overcoming challenges. Young people showed exceptional awareness of the wrongness of violent messages surrounding them and a readiness to spread ideas of togetherness. The strongest impression from the workshop was how quickly and easily, despite constant exposure to content that promotes hatred and intolerance, young people recognize and become aware of its wrongness, realizing that this problem concerns them even when these messages are not directly aimed at them.

Our journey led us to Zaječar, on June 13. In a packed Youth Center, despite the polarized atmosphere in the city, we created a safe space for dialogue. With activists Nikola Trajković and Milica Marković, and psychologist Ana Mirković, we discussed the mental state of society in smaller communities, the influence of patriarchy, and the pressures on young activists. The Youth Center was filled with a very interested audience, which showed us that conversation on these topics, as well as a safe space for it, is greatly needed.

In Požarevac, on June 19, under the slogan “The House Does (Not) Live on Drafts,” we focused on gender-based violence and the messages society sends to women. Participants Iva Branković, Ljiljana Todorović Jovanović, and Irena Jovanović opened important questions about institutional encouragement of violence and stereotypes, with active audience participation.

This year’s XVII KROKODIL Festival opened on June 27 with a spectacular live podcast recording on the stage in front of the Museum of Yugoslavia. Through the synergy of well-known platforms Tampon zona and Kritički, and the podcast Dva i po psihijatra, we discussed the phenomenon of the “manosphere,” the normalization of violence in digital space, and the strengthening of anti-gender movements. In a full amphitheater, Iva Parađanin, Nina Pavićević, and Dr. Roberto Grujičić sought an answer to the question: How to build a world where equality means freedom for all? Through conversation, the participants explored subtle forms of violence, the influence of right-wing ideologies, and the gender gap in the digital space. They touched upon emotional literacy, the normalization of violence, and the problem of femicide, but also the opportunities provided by digital platforms for connection and mutual support.

In the second half of the year, with the support of UNDP and the European Union (through the project “EU Support to Confidence Building in the Western Balkans”), we ensured the continuation and upgrade of the project – “Why Do You Say Love When You Mean War? 2.0.” We conducted extensive quantitative and qualitative research on a sample of over 1000 respondents and through focus groups composed of three generations of citizens (youth, middle-aged, over 55). This data provided us with deeper insights into citizens’ attitudes about the consequences of the war legacy. Our media campaign reached nearly 200,000 people, raising awareness of these key issues. We also supported the screening of the film “Walls Speak.”

We are concluding the year with intensive work on finalizing a large Research Report which will be published and presented to the public in early 2026.

KROKODIL ACTIVISTS CONCLUDE SLAPP CASES IN THEIR FAVOR: WE SET A PRECEDENT!

We inform you that we have successfully concluded the proceedings conducted before the Misdemeanor Court regarding the civic action of cleaning and painting the park near Mitić’s Hole on February 18, 2023, when activists and citizens painted over the graffiti with the inscription “When the army returns to Kosovo…”. We proved that we were right when we refused to plead guilty without a fight, opposing persecution by state authorities through legal means.

We managed to overturn judicial practice, so today our position is accepted that the absurd accusation that we “destroyed the external appearance of the building by applying white paint over graffiti written on a white wall” does not actually constitute a misdemeanor. Although this may seem self-evident, it took a lot of effort to convince the judges, including the first instance and Appellate Court, that they were misinterpreting regulations. Nevertheless, a precedent has been set, and a judgment was made in our favor.

This correctness was confirmed by several other first-instance and second-instance judgments concluded in our favor, as well as the expiration of statutes of limitations in other cases. These judgments once again confirm that misdemeanor charges against citizens who reject war-mongering messages were an abuse of institutions for political purposes. They also prove that activism should not be abandoned out of fear of institutional repression, but that justice should be fought for with all available legal means.

We remind you that the KROKODIL Association, together with the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, organized a reported civic action to clean the area in Slavija, including painting over graffiti. A significant number of activists refused to pay misdemeanor charges and defended their innocence in court. We owe a big thank you to our lawyer Miloš Janković, who, during the two-year processes, actively advocated and pointed out the unlawful persecution of activists and the importance of democratic struggle.

Ten attempts to prosecute KROKODIL activists have been successfully concluded, and the court did not issue convictions. Among those acquitted are Milena Berić and Milan Adnađ, while in other cases (Tamara Marković, Tijana Spasić, Vladimir Arsenijević, Milena Berić for a second misdemeanor, Milan Adnađ for a second misdemeanor), the statutes of limitations expired or the judgments were overturned.

SOLIDARITY AS A BULWARK: THE SLAPP BACK FUND

However, the fight against violence often requires more than dialogue – what is necessary is concrete, tangible defense. Whenever words of hatred turned into undeniable repression, our SLAPP BACK Fund was there.

The second year of the Fund’s operation was marked by continuous assistance to Serbian citizens affected by SLAPP lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) – unfounded repressive proceedings by which powerful individuals try to intimidate and financially exhaust free-minded individuals. This year, the strength of our community was reflected in numbers that signify life. With the support and solidarity of citizens from Serbia, the region, Europe, and the world, 384,050 dinars were collected (out of a total of 1,131,959 dinars since its establishment), and the Fund was supported by over 535 people.

All funds were used exclusively for beneficiaries and their immediate needs. During the year coming to an end, the Fund helped journalists defend themselves against lawsuits against freedom of speech and reporting. We were there for Nenad Paunović, editor of TV Pirot, Verica Marinčić, journalist for IN Media from Inđija, and Ivana Predić, journalist for Panpress in Pančevo.

Our solidarity knew no boundaries of profession or nation. The Fund helped Russian citizens residing in Serbia, Dmitry Lagovsky and Anton Bobrishev, who faced extradition, as well as young activist Nora Sejdijaj, who was arrested at a protest regarding the demolition of the Old Sava Bridge.

We must not forget how it all began – out of defiance and togetherness. After peace activist Aida Ćorović was sentenced to a fine or imprisonment in October 2023, the “For Aida – on the Frontline” campaign raised funds at lightning speed. Citizens then decided that the remaining money should be redirected to a fund for all future victims of persecution. Thus, this initiative was born.

Today, in 2025, the SLAPP BACK Fund is becoming a stable institution. In early December, initial strategic planning was held. In the presence of a working group consisting of, in addition to KROKODIL representatives, lawyer Miloš Janković, literary critic Nađa Bobičić, and peace activist Aida Ćorović, goals, mission, and vision were defined. The Fund received its official domain (www.slappbackfund.com), and the development of its web presentation began. Also, as the founder of the Fund, the KROKODIL Association participated throughout the year in the work of the National Working Group against SLAPPs, contributing to the development of key communication strategies.

KROKODIL’S HOUSE FOR LITERARY CREATORS: REFUGE AND REGIONAL EXCHANGE

Our KROKODIL’s House for Literary Creators was active throughout 2025, and after 13 years of operation, we had to move it to a completely new facility. Since 2012, KROKODIL’s residential program has hosted over 145 literary creators from more than twenty European countries and continues to grow.

Ulysses’ Shelter – Connecting European Writers: Through the project “Ulysses’ Shelter,” co-financed by the Creative Europe program of the European Commission, the network of literary residencies has expanded to eight European countries (Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, United Kingdom, Spain, Malta, and Czech Republic). The project is aimed at young writers and literary translators, providing them with opportunities for contacts, exchange, and a rich program of literary activities.

In January, Emyr Wallace Humphreys, a Welsh translator, stayed in Belgrade as the 139th guest of KROKODIL’s residency for literary creators. He translates from Welsh and Portuguese into English, and vice versa. During his stay, he visited the Faculty of Philology, spoke with students, and gave a lecture. In February, we hosted Kat Storace, a Maltese translator and publisher, as the 140th guest. She is the co-founder of the publishing house Praspar Press, dedicated to popularizing Maltese literature abroad. At a brunch at the KROKODIL Center, she discussed contemporary literary creation in her country with local writers and publishers.

“LITERATURE ACTUALLY” with the British Council – Enhancing Regional Festivals: In 2025, we also launched a significant collaboration with the British Council through the project “Culture of Literature: Enhancing Festivals through Professional Exchange” (LITERATURE ACTUALLY), implemented in partnership with the Instituti i Librit dhe i Promocionit (ILP) from Tirana. The project aims to foster cooperation, networking, and knowledge exchange among cultural professionals and organizations in the Western Balkans region, with a special emphasis on strengthening professional collaboration and enabling joint co-production of festival events.

Through residential programs in Belgrade and Tirana, young literary creators were supported. We are proud that in May, we hosted Dhurata Hoti, a writer and artist from Pristina, as the 143rd resident in Belgrade. Dhurata had networking opportunities with Serbian young authors at the KROKODIL Center and a public presentation of her literary work which explores themes of identity, sexuality, collective trauma, and post-war experience. In July, Hana Korneti (North Macedonia), author of short story collections and children’s novels, stayed as the 146th guest, meeting with local publishers and the public at the KROKODIL Center. Maša Seničić (Serbia) stayed for a month in Tirana as part of the same project.

As part of the XVII KROKODIL Festival, on June 27, a gathering of European literary festival organizers was held within the “Meet Me in Belgrade” program. Through B2B meetings, discussions, and visits to publishers and the Museum of Yugoslavia, an exchange of ideas and experiences was fostered among representatives of twelve prominent literary festivals from ten European countries, demonstrating rich potential for cooperation in the region and the EU. This project is part of a broader “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” (CC4WBs) initiative, funded by the European Union, which aims to strengthen the cultural and creative sector to increase socio-economic impact and develop skills and financial support for cultural actors. With its long-standing experience in organizing the KROKODIL literary festival since 2009, which promotes dialogue, reconciliation, and the reconstruction of ties, the KROKODIL Association is an ideal partner in these endeavors.

“Centers of the Periphery 2.0” in cooperation with the Swedish literary festival Littfest: In the middle of the year, we renewed our cooperation with Littfest, one of the largest literary festivals in Sweden. Through the project “Centers of the Periphery 2.0,” created by Littfest from Umeå and the KROKODIL Association with the support of the Swedish Institute, our goal is to strengthen ties between the Nordic and post-Yugoslav cultural scenes, promote democratic values and freedom of expression, and amplify peripheral and underrepresented voices.

This project includes an open call for six residential stays (one month each) for literary creators from Sweden in Belgrade during 2025 and 2026, with covered travel, accommodation, and a stipend. In October, Swedish author Ida Therén stayed in Belgrade as the 149th guest of the House for Literary Creators. She presented her latest novel “The Invisible Temple,” an intimate historical novel about the artist Hilma af Klint, highlighting her struggle for artistic vision and authenticity. in November, Susanne Christensen, a Danish-Norwegian literary critic and essayist, stayed in Belgrade as the 150th guest of KROKODIL’s residential program. A workshop was organized with Scandinavian studies students from the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, where Susanne Christensen commented on translations of her works. Christensen, who was named critic of the year in 2011 and wrote for Norwegian daily newspapers and literary magazines, also presented her successful first novel “Svalene sover på månen” (“Swallows Sleep on the Moon”), which combines autofiction, essay writing, and art criticism with elements of science fiction magical realism. Her stay was realized with the support of the Norwegian Embassy and NORLA. In November and December, Suzanne Ibrahim, a Syrian-Swedish poet, prose writer, and journalist, stayed in Belgrade as the 151st guest of KROKODIL’s residency. A translation workshop for Arabic studies students was held, as well as a public discussion about her personal experiences of living in war, censorship, and exile, using translated excerpts from her novel “As One Who Wears a Grave”.

Other residents: In April, Austrian-Serbian writer Barbi Marković stayed in Belgrade as the 142nd guest of KROKODIL’s residency with the support of the Austrian Cultural Forum. She presented her work and met with publishers. In June, Dorota Masłowska, one of the most popular contemporary Polish writers, stayed at KROKODIL’s House for Literary Creators and was a prominent guest at the XVII KROKODIL Festival, participating in debates and public readings, with the support of the Polish Institute in Belgrade.

SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE: BUILDING BRIDGES OF UNDERSTANDING AND SOLIDARITY

In 2025, the KROKODIL Association, with the support of the ERSTE Foundation and the Embassy of Canada in Belgrade, continued its intensive support for Ukraine. This support included fostering cooperation between Ukrainian and Serbian organizations, promoting books, collecting humanitarian aid, and other initiatives, confirming our role as the first non-governmental organization in Serbia actively dedicated to assisting Ukrainian citizens and changing the dominant public perception of Russian aggression.

Third Anniversary of the Invasion and Forums “Liberté, Egalité, Solidarité! 2.0”: On the occasion of the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, on February 26, we organized a discussion at the KROKODIL Center about the political circumstances and possibilities for more intensive cooperation between civil society organizations from Serbia and Ukraine. Previous KROKODIL research indicated the necessity of connecting in the fields of transitional justice, EU integration, and documentation of war crimes. As a continuation of this cooperation, in March 2025, the second conference of the forum “Liberté, Egalité, Solidarité! 2.0” was held in the Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod, after the first was held in Palić in December 2024. These forums, supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), focused on strengthening cooperation between women’s grassroots organizations from Serbia and Ukraine, with the aim of addressing gender-based violence and promoting social justice in post-conflict environments. Through networking, discussions, and lectures, the forums confirmed the readiness of organizations to fight for a common, better future.

Recognition in Lviv and the Painful Reality of War: Our commitment to Ukrainian culture and solidarity has been recognized beyond our country’s borders. On Friday, October 3, at the Book Forum event in Lviv, we were ceremoniously presented with a certificate of appreciation from Ivan Franko National University there “for effective assistance to Ukrainians affected by Russian aggression and active popularization of Ukrainian culture in Serbia.” Vladimir Arsenijević, on behalf of the KROKODIL Association, accepted this recognition, which further strengthened our resolve to continue providing assistance to Ukrainian society. During the last night of our stay in Lviv, we experienced the fiercest air attack on this city since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, which reminded us of the terrifying reality in which our Ukrainian friends have lived for years, as well as their incredible resilience.

NETWORKING AND RESISTANCE: EXPERIENCES FROM COTTBUS

In October, we participated in a workshop in Cottbus, Germany, organized by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb), which brought together cultural organizations from several countries. Milena Berić presented the challenges we face, including SLAPP lawsuits and right-wing threats. The visit revealed that similar problems exist there – Nazism in this part of Germany has not been eradicated and is experiencing a rise with the support of the AfD party, which hinders the work of local NGOs. This experience convinced us of the necessity of international networking and exchange of practices to jointly resist growing authoritarian tendencies that pose a global danger.

SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN AL-NAJAR FAMILY: NEW LIFE IN SERBIA

In 2025, the KROKODIL Association continued to support the Palestinian Al-Najar family, who fled from Gaza to Serbia. KROKODIL, with the support of empathetic citizens, provided them with a safe home, and little Rosa was born in Belgrade. Although Mahmud and Inas found jobs, low incomes and problems with enrolling Rosa in kindergarten present challenges to their integration. Through public appeals and the support of the local community in Novi Pazar and Sjenica, where other members of their large family settled, we continue to help them cope with trauma and build a new life in Serbia. The story of Hasan Al-Najar, one of the family members, testified to their difficult journey and the solidarity that greeted them, and we look forward to their reunion and joint celebration of humanity.

SPACES OF RESILIENCE 3.0: PROGRAM FOR STRENGTHENING LOCAL INITIATIVES

For the second year in a row, we continued our cooperation with the European Fund for the Balkans through support for the project “Spaces of Resilience 3.0: Program for Strengthening Local Initiatives.” Through this program, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), we provide micro-grants of 5,000 euros to organizations and individuals who are actively changing their local communities, with a special focus on youth.

On Thursday, November 27, the KROKODIL Association planted 20 elm trees in front of “Jovan Ristić” Elementary School in Borča as part of the “Tree of Friendship” initiative, launched by the European Fund for the Balkans. This activity had special significance, as it builds on earlier planting at the same location and contributes to the fight for cleaner air in the region.

Through the “Spaces of Resistance 3.0” project, we provide selected groups with physical space and technical support, as well as a series of training and workshops over a year in the areas of organizational development, programmatic capacities, communication skills, and advocacy. The goal is to strengthen the capacities of local initiatives in the fight for human rights, democratic processes, and cultural diversity, with a special emphasis on active youth participation. Participants will collectively vote to choose a project that will receive financial support of 5,000 euros.

THE CONSPIRATORS: A LITERARY PLOT FOR A BETTER FUTURE

We conclude the year with literary-stage “conspiracies” that left a brilliant mark across the entire region. The staged reading of the dramatic text “The Conspirators” by Igor Štiks and Vladimir Arsenijević, directed by Boris Liješević and performed by Svetozar Cvetković, Isidora Minić, Dejan Dedić, and Marko Grabež, continued its life in the year behind us.

After guest appearances in Rijeka and Pula in September, as well as a student performance at the KROKODIL festival in June, we concluded the year on December 26 at the Sombor National Theatre. Before a sold-out hall, the audience once again witnessed the imaginary meeting of great figures such as Krleža, Bogdanović, Kiš, Drndić, and others. Through their voices, based on texts from KROKODIL’s “Common Library” edition, eternal themes were discussed: nationalism, exile, fascism, and, above all, literature as a space of freedom.

The guest appearance at the Ivan Zajc Croatian National Theatre in Rijeka, on September 8, confirmed that this “polyphony of voices” is still relevant. Regardless of where it is performed – from Prishtina to Vienna – “The Conspirators” prove that, although divided by borders, we are not strangers to each other. Literature remains our common space, and imagination a key tool in the fight for a better future. This is an expression of resilience, optimism, and a firm belief that the bonds on which the literary republic in the European South rests will continue to live. Despite everything and against it.

CELA PROJECT: CONNECTING EMERGING LITERARY ARTISTS AND TRANSLATORS

In 2025, we continued to support translators and authors, and to network with 11 other organizations from Europe within the CELA (Connecting Emerging Literary Artists) project, which we have been jointly implementing for the past eight years. This international talent development project, co-financed by the Creative Europe program of the European Union, connects emerging translators from 11 European countries (10 languages) with rising authors. CELA aims to offer literary creators working with less represented European languages and in smaller markets equal conditions and opportunities for an international career, access to international audiences, and the development of professional skills.

For the needs of the second cycle of the third edition of the CELA project, the KROKODIL Association issued an open call for three emerging authors to participate in the project from October 2025 to July 2027. Selected authors are offered the translation of an excerpt from their latest published prose book into 10 European languages, the publication of the translations on the CELA website and other literary platforms across Europe, two international online masterclasses, professional communication tools, a mentoring program, meetings in Belgrade and Brussels (June 3-6, 2026), as well as visits to literary festivals in participating countries. Participants also get the opportunity to connect with an international network of over 300 writers, translators, and literary organizations in Europe. The CELA project enables developed funding programs and dedicated work by all partner organizations, including Next Page Foundation (Bulgaria), Book Arsenal (Ukraine), deBuren (Belgium), Passa Porta (Belgium), Scuola Holden (Italy), Krakow Festival Office (Poland), FILIT (Romania), GOGA (Slovenia), Escuela de Escritores (Spain), Czech Literary Centre (Czech Republic), and Wintertuin (Netherlands, project coordinator).

LOOKING TOWARDS 2026

As we sum up our impressions and prepare the extensive Report on the Culture of Violence, which we will present early next year, one promise we want to make remains as firm as ever. KROKODIL’s diverse projects will continue to be aimed at developing and supporting civil society and will serve to improve the lives of all citizens of Serbia indiscriminately.

The SLAPP BACK Fund will continue to fight repression, providing support to citizens, activists, whistleblowers, and independent journalists.

We will continue to build bridges of solidarity with Ukraine, Palestine, and all places in dire need of help, because we believe that cooperation and understanding are the only path to a more just and peaceful world.

We will continue to empower local initiatives, because a strong civil society is the foundation of every healthy community, and to connect literary voices across Europe.

Because, whenever they try to silence us with lawsuits, our answer will be – solidarity.

Whenever they try to divide us with hatred, our answer will be – dialogue.

And whenever they try to tear down our bridges, we will continue to build them tirelessly.

We wish you happy New Year and Christmas holidays. May the new year bring you peace, courage, and the belief that together we can build a more just society.

Thank you for being a part of our story.

Your KROKODIL

Special thank you to our partners for their dedicated support: Rockefeller Brothers Fund, National Endowment for Democracy, Terres Solidaire, External Action Service of the European Union, Comms Department WB task force, British Council and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Canadian Embassy, Sigrid Rausing Trust, EACEA and many others.