The fifth “Serbia against violence” protest was held on Saturday, exactly one month after the first of two mass shootings, with protestors demanding the replacements of both Interior Minister Bratislav Gašić and the head of national intelligence agency BIA, Aleksandar Vulin, and TV stations that ‘ promote violence’ to have their licences revoked.
Organised by parts of the opposition, the protest saw thousands of people gather at the National Assembly in downtown Belgrade. Famous Serbian actors and TV personalities spoke from the stage, calling on the protesters not to give up.
“We owe it to the youth of Serbia to give them truth and justice. We owe it to the children of ‘Ribnikar’ to make a society that we failed to create during their lifetime”, actor Dragan Bjelogrlić said, crying. The mass shooting at the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school, committed by a 13-year-old boy, claimed ten lives.
“What has our society turned into? During a month of peaceful protests, we have been insulted, and it is time to raise our voices. We live in a society that stimulates the dark sides of human nature instead of inspiring. Experts and hardworking people are marginalised, while insufficiently educated and incapable people are being put in their places”, said actress Svetlana Bojković.
Protestors have not changed their demands.
They demand the replacements of both Gašić and Vulin, as well as the resignations of members of the regulatory agency for broadcast media, REM.
On top of that, the protestors also demand that national broadcast licences be revoked for TV stations that “promote violence”. Another demand is that newspapers that “publish fake news and promote violence” be shut down.
While protestors formed a ring around the presidency’s office, left notes for Vučić and chanted for him to leave, a violent altercation between a US citizen and a 22-year-old member of the far-right group “People’s Patrol” was captured on film. While the latter was sentenced to 15 days in prison, the US citizen was sentenced to 30 days.
Later in the evening, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić wrote on social media that he was in his office and called for people to “make their differences their democratic advantages”.
“I am calling on all the people in Serbia. Thank you all. Those who have threatened to hang me, and those who have sent me messages of support”, said Vučić.
Commenting on the protests, Vučić repeated that he would never allow Gašić to be replaced.
“Prevention could not have solved the issue of the mass murder. The police did everything they could. No one in the world could accuse the police, or their state leadership, of this. Nowhere in the world have there been such irresponsible politicians, who call to protests because of mass shootings,” Vučić said.
“Two of the previous demands have already been met. The minister of education resigned, and the reality TV show ‘Zadruga’ will no longer be broadcast from mid-next week. But if someone wants to talk, they must also hear the other side. Not just say: no, you’ll do what we tell you, or you will be killed. Conversations like that do not exist anywhere, and they will not exist in Serbia”, Vučić said.
A doll representing Vučić on the gallows caused an uproar. The organisers insist that the person carrying the doll had nothing to do with them and that the regime sent informal, violent groups and individuals to provoke the crowd.
Commenting on the hanged doll, Vučić said that he receives over 200 death threats daily and that it is “his job as president” to handle such things.
“The door for a conversation on any topic is open every day. But we need to set a framework for all of us to move inside and see how we can deescalate the situation and unite on important matters, such as the progress of our country,” he concluded.
Vučić will meet Prime Minister Ana Brnabić on Wednesday to discuss important questions for the government session on Thursday.
A sixth “Serbia against violence” protest is expected to occur at the week’s end.
(EURACTIV.rs | Bojana Zimonjić Jelisavac)
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