In Belgrade, protesters blocked the highway and set up tents because of two mass shootings in May, the Serbian news agency Beta reports.
The protest action under the slogan “Serbia against violence” is taking place for the third time after the mass executions: on May 3, a shooting took place in a school in Belgrade, as a result of which eight people were killed; on the night of May 5, a second attack took place, in which eight people were killed. A total of about 30 people were injured during the two attacks.
The protesters blocked the highway, which is part of the E-75 route leading from Norway to Greece. In the Balkan region, this route connects Budapest, Belgrade and Skopje.
Beta estimated that tens of thousands of people participated in the action. One of the leaders of the opposition, Nebojsha Zelenovich, announced 100,000 participants.
The protesters demanded an end to the propaganda of violence in the media and public space and the dismissal of the heads of departments responsible for security, Beta points out.
At the same time, the government also carried out its action. It was organized in the city of Pancevo, northeast of Belgrade. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke there, accusing the opposition of holding political rallies on the “days of sorrow” in order to “abuse the pain of the people.” Vučić also stated that he received information from “kindred intelligence agencies from the east” that these were “attempts at color revolutions.” According to him, the opposition “wants to come to power without holding elections” and that it is demanding the president’s resignation has nothing to do with the fight against violence.
The number of participants in the rally, where Vucic was present, was estimated by the Pink TV channel at 30,000 people.
Source: Rosbalt
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