Statement: Trans Girl and Her Partner Brutally Assaulted in Belgrade

During the night between Thursday and Friday, May 28 and 29, a trans girl Mateja (drag queen Dee Amon) and her partner were assaulted by two unknown attackers near the Genex Tower in Belgrade.

Prior to the attack, the perpetrators had been traveling on public transportation with them and got off at the same stop, after which they began chasing them. They first attacked Mateja’s partner, knocking him to the ground, punching him in the head, and kicking him in the groin while shouting homophobic slurs. They then turned on Mateja. One of the attackers said to her, “Where are you, faggot?”, before punching her in the face, causing her to fall to the ground and lose consciousness. The attackers then fled the scene.

The incident was reported to the Novi Beograd Police Station, along with medical reports documenting the injuries sustained. While taking statements, police officers made homophobic remarks and denied Mateja’s gender identity by addressing using masculine pronouns, including in the official police report. The team of Da se zna! has provided the survivors with legal representative and psychological support and will continue to support them throughout the entire legal process.

Association Da se zna! warns the public about the drastic deterioration of safety for LGBT+ people in Serbia and the complete lack of accountability for those responsible for hate-motivated attacks. Less than a month ago, tear gas was thrown into the LGBT+ club Mornar in Belgrade, causing panic, coughing, and breathing difficulties among guests. In October last year, the LGBT+ club Guvernanta was also attacked, and several LGBT+ individuals were beaten. During the same period, multiple LGBT+ people were assaulted at Republic Square by a group of skinheads that regularly gathered nearby. In none of these cases did the police or the prosecution respond adequately, and not a single perpetrator has been prosecuted. Moreover, according to several queer individuals, the attackers continue to move freely around the city.

If the prosecution continues to ignore hate crimes, it will further encourage new attackers to continue committing such acts, pushing Serbia into a period of complete insecurity for the lives and safety of LGBT+ people.

Association Da se zna!