Opposition Protest in Belgrade Ends in Clashes: Eight Policemen Injured, Dozens Detained
Serbia witnessed a large-scale opposition protest on Sunday, demanding the annulment of last week's parliamentary and local elections, which international observers deemed unfair. Thousands congregated in the heart of Belgrade, expressing their discontent with the election results.
The demonstration took a violent turn, resulting in eight policemen sustaining injuries and the detention of 38 individuals, as confirmed by Serbia's police on Monday. The unrest escalated when protesters broke windows and damaged the main entrance of the town hall. Police responded by deploying pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
Ivica Ivkovic, the head of the police administration, expressed concern over the situation, mentioning that two of the injured policemen sustained serious injuries. "We will continue to work to maintain peace and order, and we expect to see more arrests in relation to protests last night," Ivkovic stated during a news conference.
Serbia's ally Russia accused foreign-backed forces of attempting to provoke unrest. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, "There are processes and attempts by third forces, including from abroad, to provoke such unrest in Belgrade." Peskov emphasized Russia's confidence in the leadership of the republic to ensure the rule of law.
Opposition parties decried the police's use of excessive force, circulating footage on social networks depicting officers allegedly beating individuals in the vicinity of the town hall.
Outgoing Prime Minister Ana Brnabic expressed gratitude to the Russian secret service for providing information on planned opposition activities. "This statement is not going to be popular in the West," Brnabic, a member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, remarked during a TV show.
Despite being an EU aspirant, Serbia has resisted Western pressure to impose sanctions against Russia, maintaining a longstanding alliance. Moscow's support for Serbia has strengthened over the years, notably after Russia opposed NATO airstrikes in 1999 against rump Yugoslavia, comprising Serbia and Montenegro.
An international monitoring mission last Monday highlighted concerns over media bias, the improper influence of President Aleksandar Vucic, and voting irregularities, attributing an unfair advantage to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. Authorities in Serbia vehemently deny any electoral irregularities.
The opposition, led by the centre-left alliance Serbia Against Violence, announced the continuation of protests on Monday, with students planning to block traffic. Preliminary results from the snap parliamentary election indicate that the populist ruling Serbian Progressive Party secured 46.72% of the votes, with Serbia Against Violence and the Socialist Party of Serbia securing 23.56% and 6.56%, respectively. The situation remains fluid as tensions persist in the aftermath of the contested elections.
