The new dynamics of violent riots in Serbia are linked to the German media with the frustration of citizens for the inaction of the relevant authorities in the face of violence by government supporters.
“Following the wave of anti -government protests in Serbia, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has announced that there will be a hard blow to the protesters, calling them ‘terrorists’,” the German public broadcaster reported, quoting Vucic’s words from a Conference on Sunday. “We will do everything that is in our power to restore the law, peace and order,” he said.
Vucic is described in the report as a “right -wing politician” and is quoted as saying that his government takes a few days to prepare a “legal and formal framework” for the state response.
“It will be completely different from what you’ve seen so far,” he added, without giving further details. “However, the announcement of the state of emergency is not being taken into consideration,” the media said.
In Belgrade and other cities, violent clashes between security forces and protesters have taken place for several nights, reported Stern, adding that “Serbia has experienced regular and violent protests against government and corruption that is widespread for months.”
“The reason was the collapse of the Novi Sad railway tent on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people,” the report said, explaining that “the protests were initially focused on the causes of the collapse”, but later “gatherings led mainly by students, turned against government and widespread corruption in the country”.
What is the cause of frustration?
Der Spiegel magazine reports on its website that government opponents also demonstrated Sunday evening in a number of Serbian cities.
“The clashes with the police also took place in Belgrade. Police detained demonstrators trying to march towards the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) headquarters. The clashes were also reported in the country’s second largest city in Novi Sad.”
The German newspaper claims that Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said shortly before midnight that there were an injured policeman and 18 arrested demonstrators. In the previous nights there were even more injured and arrested.
Serbian authorities did not provide details on the number of injured protesters, writes Der Spiegel.
The report recalls that the protests until last Wednesday had been largely non -violent. “However, from the beginning, these gatherings were repeatedly subjected to physical attacks by organized and sometimes disguised supporters of the Vucic government. These attacks were rarely punished.”
The German newspaper reports that independent media in Serbia “attribute the new dynamics of violent unrest, some of which were initiated by protesters, frustrating citizens with the inaction of the relevant authorities in the face of violence by government supporters.”
Der Spiegel concludes her report with a statement from Michael O’Flahererty, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, who on Friday expressed concern about “disproportionate use of the police” in Serbia and called on the authorities to “prohibit arbitrary arrests and to dismiss the situation”.
