On 11 July 2026, Vladimir Arsenijević — a prominent Serbian writer, translator and publisher, and one of the founders, President and Creative Director of the KROKODIL Association — was attacked in Belgrade.
KROKODIL is an independent cultural organisation founded in 2009. It organises an international literary festival in Belgrade, runs the Centre for Contemporary Literature, and manages Serbia’s first residency programme created specifically for writers, translators and other literary professionals. Since its establishment, KROKODIL has used literature as a space for dialogue, reconciliation and the restoration of connections disrupted by wars and political conflicts.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, KROKODIL has consistently supported Ukraine. In 2022, the organisation suspended its regular residency programme and made its premises available to Ukrainian writers and cultural professionals who needed a safe place to live and work.
A Ukrainian library was established at the KROKODIL Centre in Belgrade. The association organises public programmes dedicated to Ukraine, promotes cooperation between Ukrainian and Serbian civil society organisations, and works to counter Russian propaganda.
Representatives of KROKODIL have personally delivered humanitarian aid to Ukraine on three occasions:
— in 2022, to the Kharkiv City Perinatal Centre;
— in 2023, to internally displaced people, children and elderly residents in Blyzniuky, Kharkiv Region;
— in 2024, to a Point of Invincibility in Kherson.
In 2026, the association also launched an aid campaign for the Kapitoshka kindergarten in Bucha.
On 10 March 2026, KROKODIL received the Amber Heart recognition from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for its contribution to supporting and promoting Ukrainian culture, history and the struggle for freedom.
On the morning of 11 July, Vladimir Arsenijević arrived at a location beneath Branko’s Bridge in Belgrade, where a peaceful commemoration of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide was due to take place.
According to statements issued by KROKODIL and PEN International, he was attacked by a group of approximately twenty to thirty young men. They threatened him, physically assaulted him and took his mobile phone. Graffiti glorifying convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić and the Army of Republika Srpska appeared at the site. Because of the threat to public safety, the commemorative event was cancelled.
According to Arsenijević’s lawyer, by 15 July two participants in the attack had been identified and had admitted their involvement. At the same time, the duty prosecutor reportedly found no grounds for criminal proceedings, and the incident was expected to be treated only as a public-order offence. Arsenijević’s representative has called for this decision to be reconsidered, for all those involved to be held accountable, and for any possible organisers or instigators to be identified.
The Office of Odesa — UNESCO City of Literature expresses its solidarity with Vladimir Arsenijević and the KROKODIL team.
We strongly condemn physical violence, threats and attempts to intimidate writers, journalists, cultural professionals and representatives of civil society.
An attack on a person because of their public position, literary work or civic engagement is an attack on freedom of expression, the right to remembrance and the possibility of open public dialogue.
We support the call for a full, impartial and effective investigation, for all those responsible to be held accountable, and for the safety of Vladimir Arsenijević, the KROKODIL team and participants in peaceful cultural and commemorative events to be guaranteed.
For Odesa, this solidarity has particular significance. For years, KROKODIL has supported Ukraine not only through public statements, but through concrete action: humanitarian missions, residencies, cultural programmes and the promotion of Ukrainian literature in Serbia.
Today, we stand with those who have stood — and continue to stand — with Ukraine.
