The numerous reactions to CINS’ database about MPs costs and one denial speak only of one thing – that we have to call on officials to be transparent and responsible more often and in greater numbers.

Serology or so-called rapid tests based on which attempts are made at determining whether patients have the coronavirus are not reliable and can hide the real condition of the infected. Although Crisis Headquarters member Darija Kisić Tepavčević claims that these tests are not included in official statistics, her colleague Predrag Kon claims otherwise.

After the protests in Belgrade and Novi Sad in early July, misdemeanor courts handed down a total of 43 convictions in expedited proceedings. Almost half of these verdicts were reached based on statements by police officers, whereas the judges did not consider statements by citizens to be true. According to a CINS analysis, for similar cases of insulting a police officer or carrying a flare some received a minimum fine, while others were sentenced to prison. Two judges of the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade particularly stood out in terms of sentencing, as out of the total 12 verdicts we had access to they handed down prison sentences in as many as nine.

Although no major incidents occurred at a protest in Niš, nor were there any clashes between the demonstrators and police, plainclothes policemen attempted to arrest 24-year-old Mitar Stojanović after the demonstrations on July 8, while he was sitting with his friends at a bar. Stojanović claims that they did not show any ID, that they pulled guns, and that he was questioned in the premises of the Security Information Agency in Niš.

Although the July 9 protests in several Serbian cities passed in a predominantly peaceful atmosphere, the public is still disturbed by what was seen on the streets on July 7 and 8 – large quantities of tear gas, violence, brutal attacks by the police on demonstrators, even on those who posed no threat. While representatives of non-governmental organizations say that unauthorized use of force by the police is prohibited, some of the protesters have told CINS that police beat them even though they had not participated in the riots.

A seven-month struggle for information on how much budget money was given to MPs in the previous period ended with data for 402 MPs, but not for one familiar name – Parliament Speaker Maja Gojković.

The Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia (CINS) monitors the development of coronavirus in Serbia and its impact on the lives of people. This is why, since the beginning of the epidemic, we publish official data on the number of people tested, confirmed new cases, hospitalized, people on respirators and deceased. Since we recorded a low number of new cases for couple of weeks in April 2022, from April 24, we will not publish data every day, but once a week.

After a secret conclusion the government enacted on March 15, the National Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia halted public procurement of large quantities of medical equipment – masks, gloves, gowns, protective glasses and other items. Although procurements are no longer publicized, Suzana Vasiljević, an advisor to President Aleksandar Vučić, has told CINS that the procurement of ventilators and other medical equipment is going exclusively through this institution. While the government and the Health Insurance Fund are not answering CINS’ questions, Transparency Serbia’s Nemanja Nenadić says that hiding information is bad because it is about taxpayers’ money, but also about citizens’ trust in the government.

Although health care workers of the Clinical Center Niš in self-isolation were last week notified that they would receive two thirds of their monthly salary, after CINS’ report the Serbian government and the Ministry of Labor have decided that health care workers will receive the full salary after all.