Journalist Nenad Živković was apprehended today in Pančevo, Serbia, during a memorial for those who lost their lives in the collapse of the Novi Sad Railway Station canopy, as he declined to present his ID to police.

Officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs escorted him to a car, where he remained for about thirty minutes, as citizens gathered in front of the vehicle, preventing him from being taken to the police station.

Živković informed reporters that he declined to comply because there was a sixteen-minute moment of silence occurring at that time.

“Exercising my right to peaceful assembly and protest, I refused to present my ID to the police officer, especially during a tribute to the victims at the train station. The police stated they would escort me to the station to verify my identity, leading to my detention,” Živković explained.

After just over half an hour, he provided his ID to the officers and was subsequently released.

“I want to convey a message to citizens not to surrender their ID cards to have reports filed against them; it is unnecessary. We have the lawful right to assemble, and I am informing the police that they no longer have authority over us, and we are not intimidated by them,” said Živković, who is also the editor of the Pančevo SiTi portal.

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