Serbia expels Italian media freedom researcher, draws Council of Europe scrutiny

Serbian authorities denied a residence permit to Massimo Moratti, a researcher for the Italian media freedom group Osservatorio, prompting criticism from the Council of Europe. The move signals continued tightening of space for civil society and media watchdogs in Serbia, a candidate for EU accession. The incident is part of a broader pattern of pressure on independent media, though the specific rationale for the denial remains unclear.