On November 20, 2025, the Senate of the University of Novi Sad voted in secret to deny the promotion of Jelena Kleut, an associate professor in the Department of Media Studies. The denial appeared to be retaliation for her support of student protests.
Kleut, an expert on new media and the freedom of speech, openly supported Serbian university students engaged in nationwide anti-corruption protests. In September 2025, the Electoral Council of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Novi Sad formally proposed that she be promoted from associate to full professor, noting that she met the formal and professional requirements for the position.
The Senate of the University voted by secret ballot not to confirm the promotion, providing no official decision or justification. Under university policy, this denial resulted in the termination of her employment at the University of Novi Sad. Kleut immediately appealed the decision, which sent her case to the expanded Senate, a body comprising additional members, including representatives of the University Council. In a subsequent secret vote on November 20, the expanded Senate declined to issue a decision, effectively finalizing Kleut’s removal from the faculty.
Faculty, students, and media freedom organizations rallied around Kleut, accusing the university of refusing her promotion because of her support for the student movement and its demands. On January 21, 2026, students launched a blockade at the University of Novi Sad, calling the decision an attack on university autonomy.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about about the refusal of an otherwise widely supported meritorious promotion to a professor in apparent reprisal for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. University authorities have an obligation to refrain from retaliatory actions intended to punish, restrict, or chill the exercise of academic freedom so long as that activity is undertaken peacefully and responsibly. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, denial stemming from such activity undermines academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://anem.org.rs/en/strane/anem-slucaj-jelene-kleut-pojacava-se-represija-na-univerzitetima-i-profesorima-novinarstva
https://serbiantimes.info/en/standing-with-students-professor-jelena-kleut-loses-job-after-20-years-of-service/
https://www.nedeljnik.rs/profesorka-filozofskog-jelena-kleut-ostala-bez-posla-nije-izabrana-u-zvanje-redovne-profesorke/
https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/slobodan-univerzitet-jelena-kleut-izbor-u-zvanje-univerzitet-u-novom-sadu/
https://volimzrenjanin.com/studenti-blokirali-filozofski-fakultet/
https://jugpress.com/mreza-integriteta-zaustaviti-politicku-odmazdu-nad-profesorkom-jelenom-kleut/
https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/koalicija-za-slobodu-medija-solidarnost-sa-jelenom-kleut-gusenje-slobode-izrazavanja-i-udar-na-obrazovanje-buducih-novinara/
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/letter-of-support-for-jelena-kleut