On Saturday, gatherings of “citizens who oppose blockades” were organized in several cities in Serbia, and representatives of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) called for them on social networks and in pro-government media, claiming that the gathering was not party-related.
The gatherings were held, among others, in Paraćin, Sombor, Bor, Ruma, Bačka Palanka, Leskovac, Kikinda, Kruševac, Inđija, and Vrbas.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić joined the protests organized in Ub.
Serbian Defense Minister and member of the SNS presidency Bratislav Gašić spoke at the gathering in Kruševac, Radio Free Europe reports, citing Beta. Gašić was accompanied by SNS Vice President Nevena Đurić Nikitović, who is also the president of the SNS City Committee.
“Citizens against blockades,” “I want my Serbia back,” are some of the banners at these gatherings.
As reported by N1, at the rally in Vrbas, those gathered carried banners with the inscriptions “I want life”, “Peace yes, blockades no”, “Peaceful day, free Serbia”.
Under the slogan “We want our life”, SNS supporters gathered in Obrenovac, and after listening to music in the square, they set off for a walk through the main streets of Obrenovac.
Gendarmerie units were present on the streets, as well as people wearing “red berets”, as well as bikers. The “Red Berets” formation was disbanded for its participation in the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić in 2003.
Police Director Dragan Vasiljević said on Saturday that around 70,000 people attended the rallies in 71 municipalities and cities and that the protests passed without incidents.
The previous rallies, held on August 20, were officially organized by the non-governmental organization Center for Social Stability.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated at the time that the gatherings were held in about 50 towns and villages in Serbia, and that they were “not gatherings against ‘blockadeers’, but against blockades”.
These gatherings are being organized in response to anti-government protests that have been going on for more than nine months, primarily demanding accountability for the death of 16 people in the collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad.
The students leading the protests have also added a demand for early parliamentary elections. They believe that this is an inevitable move because “the state has done nothing to address responsibility for the accident”.
The government refuses to call early elections.
