Austrian MP in Belgrade: Vučić, stop the repression immediately

Meri Disoski, a Green Party MP in the Austrian Parliament, visited Belgrade as a guest of the Green-Left Front and called on Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at a press conference in the Serbian Parliament to stop the repression of citizens, students, civil society, the opposition, and the free media.

She said she had come to support the people of Serbia who are fighting for the rule of law and European values, noting that she had seen and witnessed the strong resistance maintained by peaceful protests on the streets throughout Serbia.

This resistance is not aimed at destabilising the country, but because corruption is destroying Serbia, she said, adding that police brutality is evident.

She also stated that media outlets such as N1 and Nova are facing intimidation and pressure.

The Austrian MEP also recalled that three weeks ago, Vučić described some MEPs as scum, which was unacceptable, and stressed that the EU would not forget the collapse of the canopy in Novi Sad and the murder of 16 people.

Mary Dososki also stated that the EU stands behind the citizens of Serbia, but that solidarity alone is not enough and that action is needed from all European institutions.

She called on Vučić to immediately cease the repression.

Dososki also told civil society, the media, the opposition, and citizens: “The EU is watching you, history is watching you, do not stop expressing your opinion.”

Radomir Lazović, co-chair of the ZLF and host of the Austrian MEP, said that the ZLF’s aim was to seek the help of its partners across the EU to assist them in calling elections and ensuring a peaceful transition of power.

Biljana Đorđević, co-chair of the ZLF, said that it is important for MEPs to come to Belgrade and see for themselves the state of democracy and freedoms in Serbia. She described Aleksandar Vučić’s local regime as a hybrid regime that is approaching hard authoritarianism with elements of strong repression./Danas/