Legal steps for reporting a hate crime in Serbia
A hate crime in Serbia can involve physical violence, threats, property damage, harassment or another offence motivated by hostility towards a person’s race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or another protected characteristic. The incident may happen in a street, workplace, school, rented property, public transport, online space or an open-air market.
For Australians visiting, studying or working in Serbia, the reporting process may feel unfamiliar. Serbia uses different emergency numbers and legal terminology from Australia, and an Australian citizen remains subject to Serbian law while in the country. Prompt reporting, careful evidence collection and support from a qualified local organisation can make the process clearer.
Recognise the conduct and record what happened
Start by treating the event as a potential criminal matter rather than dismissing it as an argument or offensive comment. A verbal insult may become legally significant when it includes a threat, incitement to violence, targeted harassment or conduct connected with another offence. Physical assault, vandalism, stalking and intimidation should be reported even if the injury or financial loss appears limited.
Write down the date, time, location and sequence of events as soon as possible. Record the exact words used, any slurs or symbols, the behaviour of each person involved, descriptions of clothing and vehicles, and the names of witnesses. If the incident occurred near a Belgrade bus stop, a Novi Sad venue or a busy pijaca, note nearby shops, cameras, transport stops and other possible sources of evidence.
Keep screenshots, voice messages, emails, social media links, photographs and damaged items. Do not edit original files. Make a separate note explaining when each item was received or created. If you are travelling from Sydney or Melbourne, store copies securely online and with a trusted person in Australia, while retaining the original files on your phone.
Get immediate safety and medical assistance
If there is immediate danger, move towards a staffed public place and contact Serbian police on 192. The general emergency number 112 can also connect callers with emergency services. These numbers differ from Australia’s Triple Zero, or 000, so travellers should save them before moving around Serbia. Ask a trusted person, hotel employee or venue manager to stay with you if you feel unsafe.
Seek medical attention after an assault, even where injuries seem minor. A medical record can establish the timing and nature of harm, and a doctor may document bruising, anxiety, sleep disturbance or other consequences. Keep prescriptions, discharge papers, invoices and travel records. If you are in Belgrade, a hospital or local health centre may be able to create the first medical record before a detailed police interview.
Do not confront the suspected offender or arrange a private meeting to recover property. If the person continues to contact you, preserve every message and tell police about the continuing risk. Australian consular officials can help explain available support and contact relatives, but they cannot investigate the crime or direct Serbian police and prosecutors.
Make a formal report to the police
A report can be made at a police station, to an officer at the scene or, depending on the circumstances, directly to the competent public prosecutor. Explain clearly that you believe the offence was motivated by hatred or bias. Useful Serbian terms include zločin iz mržnje for hate crime, krivična prijava for a criminal complaint and tužilaštvo for the public prosecution service.
Take identification, medical documents, photographs, witness details and a written chronology. If you do not speak Serbian confidently, ask for an interpreter and avoid signing a statement you cannot understand. Request the incident or case reference, the name and rank of the receiving officer, and information about where further documents should be delivered.
| Situation | Immediate action | Useful record |
|---|---|---|
| Physical attack or immediate threat | Call 192 or 112 and move to safety | Emergency call details, medical report |
| Online threat or targeted abuse | Save messages, account details and URLs | Screenshots plus original files |
| Property damage or graffiti | Photograph the scene before cleaning it | Repair estimates and witness contacts |
| Discriminatory refusal of a service | Ask for the reason in writing and document staff details | Receipt, booking, policy or correspondence |
| Police report not properly received | Ask for a supervisor and consider contacting the prosecutor | Names, time, station and reference number |
If the police initially describe the incident as a minor dispute, calmly repeat the facts indicating bias: words used, symbols displayed, previous threats, group affiliation or the victim’s protected characteristic. The legal classification may change as evidence is assessed, so the most important first step is to create a reliable official record.
Preserve evidence of motive and harm
Serbian criminal law can treat hatred or intolerance as an aggravating circumstance when a crime is motivated by a protected characteristic. Separate offences may also apply to inciting national, racial or religious hatred, discriminatory conduct or threats. The precise classification depends on the facts, available evidence and the prosecutor’s assessment.
Motive is often proved through several details rather than one statement. Preserve extremist slogans, repeated references to nationality or religion, messages sent before or after the incident, discriminatory graffiti and evidence that similar people were targeted. Witnesses should write their own accounts promptly and avoid coordinating wording with one another.
For online material, capture the account name, profile address, date, time and surrounding conversation. Report serious threats to police even if a platform removes the content. For physical damage, photograph the location from a distance and close up, and ask nearby businesses whether their CCTV system may have recorded the event. Do not trespass or attempt to obtain footage unlawfully.
Use prosecutors and equality institutions
If police action is delayed or incomplete, a victim or another person with relevant knowledge can ask the competent public prosecutor about submitting a criminal complaint. A lawyer or legal aid organisation can help prepare the document, identify the relevant offence and explain whether further evidence should be attached. Keep proof of every submission, including email delivery records and stamped copies.
The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality can examine discriminatory treatment within its jurisdiction, which may be relevant to exclusion from services, employment, education or accommodation. The Ombudsman may also be relevant where public authorities fail to act lawfully. These procedures do not replace a criminal report when violence, threats or property damage are involved.
Discrimination can affect practical matters beyond the original incident. For example, if a bank freezes access after a dispute connected with identity, nationality or another protected feature, NOMCENTAR’s guidance on a frozen bank account explains a separate legal problem and the records that may be useful. Treat each issue as its own complaint while explaining any connection between them.
Obtain legal and personal support
Free legal assistance may be available through local authorities, university legal clinics, civil society groups and organisations such as NOMCENTAR NGO, also known as Udruženje Nomotehnički Centar. Support may include explaining Serbian procedure, helping organise documents, referring a case to a lawyer and discussing communication with police or prosecutors.
A support person can attend where permitted, interpret practical instructions and help create a timeline. If the victim is a child, a person with a disability or someone who is particularly vulnerable, ask police and legal advisers about special protections during interviews. A trusted Serbian speaker can assist, but sensitive legal advice should come from a qualified professional rather than informal translation alone.
Australians should contact the Australian Embassy in Belgrade for consular information if they are arrested, hospitalised or otherwise seriously affected. Consular assistance does not guarantee a lawyer, payment of legal costs or a particular outcome. Travel insurance may cover legal consultation, medical treatment or emergency relocation, so notify the insurer while retaining all Serbian documents.
Follow the case and reduce further risk
After reporting, keep a secure case file containing the police reference, medical documents, witness contacts, photographs, correspondence and a dated diary of further incidents. Tell the prosecutor or police if the suspect contacts you, if online abuse escalates or if you fear retaliation. New conduct may form a separate offence and should not be treated as part of the original report automatically.
Avoid publishing the suspect’s personal information or making accusations that could create defamation or privacy problems. Use neutral language when discussing the matter publicly, and ask a lawyer before sharing sensitive evidence with media or social networks. Change passwords, activate two-factor authentication and review location-sharing settings if the harassment is digital.
Community groups can help prevent repeated incidents by creating clear reporting procedures and recording patterns without exposing victims unnecessarily. A local project may also need legal checks before using public land or collecting funds; for example, NOMCENTAR explains community garden requirements, which illustrates why Serbian permits and organisational rules matter even for constructive civic activities. A well-documented report gives Serbian institutions, support organisations and affected communities a stronger basis for responding to hate-motivated harm.