Riot police in Serbia fired tear gas to prevent hundreds of opposition supporters from entering the city council building in the capital on Sunday to protest what election observers said was widespread vote rigging during last weekend’s general election.
Serbia’s populist president Aleksandar Vucic said it was an attempt to overthrow a government orchestrated from abroad.
He said more than 35 people had been arrested and more detainees would follow.
“This is a violent attempt to take over the state institutions of the Republic of Serbia,” Vucic told pro-government Pink TV.
The country’s populist authorities have denied vote rigging and described elections to fill parliament and local offices as fair.
Anti-riot police units use tear gas to disperse protesters near the Belgrade city council building during a demonstration in Belgrade on Dec. 24, 2023, a week after parliamentary and local elections in Serbia. AFP via Getty Images
Vucic said Sunday that allegations of irregularities in voting were blatant “lies” promoted by the political opposition.
Vucic suggested the riots were instigated from abroad but provided no evidence to support the claim.
Addressing the nation on state media as the protest unfolded outside Belgrade’s city hall, he called the protesters “thugs” who will not succeed in destabilizing the state and said, “This is not a revolution.”
“They will not succeed,” Vucic said. “We did our best with our calm and gentle reaction not to hurt the protesters” who came to the event to protest peacefully.
Police officers use pepper spray on protesters as they guard the Belgrade city council building during a demonstration in Belgrade, on Dec. 24, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
Armored riot police first barricaded themselves inside the city government building, firing tear gas and pepper spray as hundreds of opposition protesters smashed windows at the entrance.
Later, the police pushed the crowd away from the downtown area and made several arrests.
Protesters shouted “Open the door” and “Thieves,” as they pelted the building with eggs and rocks. Some chanted “Vucic is Putin,” comparing the Serbian president to the Russian leader.
Nebojsa Zelenovic, one of the leaders of the opposition alliance Serbia Against Terrorism, said police officers swarmed the entire center of Belgrade, including rooftops.
A wooden object is thrown at police officers guarding the entrance to the Belgrade city council building during a protest in Belgrade, on Dec. 24, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
This area is home to the national parliament and the presidential headquarters along with the city government.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Results from the December 17 election showed a victory for Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party in both the parliamentary and Belgrade city votes.
Serbia Against Violence, the party’s main opponent, said it had been robbed of victories, especially in Belgrade.
“We will continue our fight,” said Zelenovic.
A protester uses a wooden object against police officers guarding the entrance to the Belgrade city council building during a demonstration in Belgrade, on Dec. 24, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
An observation mission made up of representatives of international rights monitors reported various irregularities, including cases of bought votes and the clogging of ballot boxes.
Observers also stated that the situation was unfair for opposition candidates due to media bias, misuse of public resources and the dominance of the president during the campaign.
“Police are everywhere, even on the roof. Obviously they do not want to recognize the election results. We will continue our struggle,” said Nebojsa Zelenovic, one of the leaders of the alliance.
The vote has caused political tension in Serbia, a troubled Balkan country seeking closer ties with Russia but also membership of the European Union.
Serbia Against Violence said in a letter sent Thursday to EU institutions, officials and member states that it will not recognize the election results.
The alliance called on the EU to do the same and launch an investigation.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
