site.btaRTS Blockade Lifted, Serbian Government Appoints New Competition for Members of Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media

After 14 days of blockade of public television in Serbia, the Government appointed a new competition for the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) late on Monday. Protesting students lifted the blockade after the parliamentary committee on culture and information voted to start a new procedure for the selection of members of the REM Council, having previously cancelled the old competition and thus fulfilling one of the students' demands.

Traffic on the streets around the building returned to normal around midnight.

The blockade of the Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) began on April 14, with students, citizens and military veterans participating in the action. Barricades were set up on the approaches to all streets and entrances to the RTS. Throughout the blockade, the public television did not stop broadcasting, but changed its programming schedule.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the National Assembly President Ana Brnabic, and several ministers strongly condemned the blockade of RTS, describing it as "violence" .

EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos announced that she was closely monitoring the situation in Serbia, including the blockade of the RTS, and urged everyone to refrain from deepening the tensions. Kos will arrive in Serbia on Tuesday for an official visit. She will first meet the Serbian President on Tuesday evening before meeting opposition representatives on Wednesday, Serbian newspaper Danas reported.

A wave of protests, led by students, swept Serbia after the collapse of the station canopy in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad on November 1, killing 16 people. Students blockaded some 60 faculties across the country. According to the protesters, the tragedy occurred because of corrupt practices that led to shoddy repairs at the station. They demand that those responsible for the tragedy face political and penal consequences, and that institutions be allowed to work without political pressure and influence.