Belgrade, Serbia
AP
–
Serbian President Alexander Vicz announced strict measures against anti-government protesters on Sunday after days of riots on the streets across Serbia that challenged his increasingly dictatorial rule in the Balkan country.
Thousands of people protested in various Serbian towns, including the capital Belgrade, against the threat of Mukacci’s crackdown late on Sunday. Protesters called out “Arrest Vucic” and demanded that all those who were detained for the past few days be released. No incidents have been reported.
Often at one of the TV addresses, Vucic denounced anti-government protesters of “pure terrorism” and reiterated his claim that months of sustained protests against his rule were coordinated in the West and aimed at destroying Serbia.
“Our country is at serious risk. They put all our values, our normal lives, our individuals at risk,” Wykic said. He provided no concrete evidence for his claims.
“Unless we take stricter steps, it’s a matter of the day they (the protesters) kill someone,” Viuch said. “I’m saying this for history.”
The harsh warning came after five consecutive nights of clashes between one protester and the police on the other and Wykic’s loyalty. Angry protesters on Saturday evening were governing Wützic over Serbia’s progressive party office in the western Serbian town, as well as other ruling coalition allies.
Saturday evening demonstrators clashed with police in Belgrade, the capital and the northern city of Novi Sad to the north. Riot officials used tear gas against demonstrators who threw stun grenades, flares and bottles.
Vucic did not specify what the state’s response would be like, he said he’d come within a week. However, he emphasized that an emergency is not imminent. Many have already been detained and injured in the past few days while police face charges of excessive force and arbitrary detention of protesters.
“You will witness the decision of Serbia,” Wüch said. “We will use everything at our disposal to restore peace and order in the country.”
This week’s clash marked a major escalation and killed 16 people after most of the peaceful demonstrations over nine months that began after the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in northern Serbia.
Many in Serbia have condemned the tragedy for alleged widespread corruption of state-run infrastructure projects, saying they have promoted poor renovation work. The Serbian president faces accusations of restraining democratic freedom while allowing organized crime and corruption to flourish. He denied this.
Serbia is officially hoping to join the EU, but Vucic maintains strong ties with Russia and China. On Sunday, he praised Russia’s support for what he called a “colored revolution” to the government.
