State Dept. lists corruption as one of main issues in Serbia

Reuters/Larry Downing

The US State Department assessed in its Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2017 that lack of independence in judiciary, corruption, interference with privacy, trafficking in person and societal violence against the LGBTI persons are the most significant human rights issues in Serbia.

The Republic of Serbia held extraordinary parliamentary elections in 2016 and presidential elections in 2017, the report said, assessing that the elections were mostly free but that both campaign periods were titled to benefit progovernment candidates.

According to the report, the war crimes prosecutor made little progress on cases.

The legal framework for the right to reparation for victims of human rights violations committed during the 19902 remained inadequate, said the report which was presented on Friday.

The report includes publications on the annual human rights conditions in countries and regions outside the US, and is submitted annually by the Department of State to the United States Congress.