On 8 January 2010, the apartment of human rights defender Mr Marko Karadzic was broken into. Marko Karadzic is the State Secretary at the Ministry for Human and Minority Rights.

Further Information

On 8 January 2010, Marko Karadzic returned home to his apartment in Belgrade after a family lunch to find that someone had broken into his apartment and ransacked it. Marko Karadzic confirmed the break-in and declared: "Is this the message that someone wants to show that knows where I live and can come when they want, I do not know". The fact that nothing was stolen in the incident confirms that the break-in might have had intimidatory purposes. Marko Karadzic is highly regarded within the Serbian human rights community for his progressive stances as well as his commitment and work in promoting and protecting human rights, particularly minority rights. Several local human rights groups expressed concern that this incident might be motivated by his human rights work.

This is not the first time that Marko Karadzic is targeted. In April 2009 he was the subject of a smear campaign when posters with his photographs associated with porn images were put up around the city of Pancevo. It is also reported that he has on several occasions received anonymous threats.

Front Line believes that the break-in at the home of Marko Karadzic might be an attempt to intimidate him and prevent him from carrying out his human rights work within the government.