“He is a liar, a manipulator and a thief”: The seventh post-election mass protests in Belgrade

Last night, the seventh mass protest by the “Serbia Against Violence” coalition over allegations of electoral theft took place in front of the Republican Election Commission (RIK) in Belgrade, with the participation of two other representatives of the strongest opposition coalition “Serbia Against Violence” launched a hunger strike demanding the annulment of the elections.

Janko Veselinovic, President of the Movement for Turnaround (PzP), and Zeljko Veselinovic, President of the Sloga trade union, started the hunger strike, the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) reported.

Previously, it will be recalled, Marinika Tepić went on hunger strike on 18 December, and three days later Jelena Milošević and Danijela Grujić joined her.

The SSP announced that its Vice-President, Marinika Tepić, will receive daily infusions from 23 December, stating that the hunger strike is endangering her health.

“These brave women are showing that they have the will and the desire to bring this story to an end, and are sending a message to the whole of Serbia,” said Miroslav Aleksic, one of the organisers of the “Serbia Against Violence” electoral list from the protest.

Opposition representatives tried to enter the Assembly building, but were prevented from doing so by the police inside.

The protest was marred by a number of incidents, with citizens breaking windows and the front door, and video surveillance cameras were destroyed.

Citizens threw stones at the Belgrade City Assembly building and police sprayed them with large quantities of tear gas.

Meanwhile, the President of Serbia was eating apples. As he wrote in a post on the Instagram profile of buducnostsrbijeav: “Moments of respite in the presidency”. It is important to keep the peace, arrest the thugs and secure the future of our children. I want you to know, dear friends, that I am always at my post and ready to protect the stability of the country, to call for restraint, but also to save the country unequivocally. Our Serbia. The only one”.

In the end, the police and the gendarmerie broke up the citizens’ demonstration.

The gendarmerie also removed the press teams, saying that an investigation was needed, and that was the end of the protest. As reported by a Danas journalist, the Serbian Minister of the Interior, Bratislav Gasic, entered the City Assembly.

For the seventh night in a row, citizens gathered in Belgrade at the invitation of Serbia Against Violence, the largest opposition coalition, were pushed to the side streets.

The opposition tried to enter the Belgrade City Assembly building in front of the Republican Election Commission (RIK).

Inside, police in riot gear were present when the windows and doors of the Assembly were smashed. Police sprayed protesters with large quantities of tear gas from the Assembly building, Danas reports.

A larger number of police in armoured suits and gendarmerie from the direction of the National Assembly came to the city assembly when they made a barricade.

After retreating due to the tear gas, some of the demonstrators approached the Assembly again and continued to throw stones at it.

The Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic, stated that members of the Ministry of the Interior had clear instructions to remain restrained and not to respond to the protests in front of the Belgrade City Assembly, in order to avoid anyone being injured.

The police threw tear gas from the building at the protesters in front of the door.

The Ministry of the Interior called on all participants in last night’s protest in Belgrade and the organisers of the rally in front of the “Serbia Against Violence” list to respect the laws of the Republic of Serbia and not to disturb the public. order and to refrain from violent attempts to enter the Belgrade City Assembly building and other protected facilities.

Most of the citizens at the protest stood still, but a few attempted to enter the Assembly.

Srđan Milivojević demanded the current regime to recognise the electoral theft and said that “this is not a struggle for power, but for freedom”.

Aleksandar Jovanovic Ćuta, leader of the Ecological Uprising movement, said that for the time being the plan remained before the Belgrade City Assembly, adding that “there is no disagreement”.

Jovanović said at the protest that they had tried to enter the city assembly as councillors and MPs, but had been prevented from doing so, which had angered the people. He was sprayed with tear gas at the entrance of the City Assembly when they tried to enter.

Radomir Lazovic, Green Left Front MP, called on the police to stand back from the entrance of the City Assembly and allow the councillors to address the assembled citizens in order to calm the situation.

“No one wants violence, we are fighting violence. These are people who carry out violence, not citizens who are forcibly exploited,” he told reporters outside the town assembly./The Geopost/