thousands of protesters rioted on the streets of Belgrade after the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced the introduction of a curfew on the background of growth in the number of new cases COVID-19. During the demonstration, protesters managed to enter the building of Parliament. In response to their actions the police used tear gas and batons.
Initially the protests were peaceful. They were attended by local residents, students and members of the civil movement “don’t let Belgrade drown” indignant with the decision of the authorities to re-impose a curfew from Friday evening, July 10, to Monday morning, July 13, due to the growth in the number of people infected with coronavirus. Many of them kept social distance, and were wearing masks.
However, after some time the situation worsened. Tuesday night between police and protesters started a brawl.
Protesters attacked police cordons, threw law enforcement officers with stones, flares, bottles and eggs and also set fire to several vehicles. In addition, they demanded the resignation of the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic.
In response to the actions of the demonstrators the police used tear gas and batons.
moreover, the group of protesters managed to enter the hall of the Serbian Parliament. The police took 15 minutes to oust the protesters from the building.
According to reports of the Serbian media during the riots were injured dozens of people, among them police officers and the protesters themselves.
“we had 43 wounded policemen, said the national television RTS Director of the police of Belgrade Vladimir Rebić. Probably the number is much higher because people with minor injuries not asked for help. Has information about 17 victims”
Rebić said that the riots started spontaneously. Law enforcement officials did not expect such developments and such aggression from the protesters.
“the Police for a long time refrained from the extremes. We used physical force only when it was used against us. We acted with the utmost restraint, – continued the head of the Belgrade police. – However, we managed to get rid of them all. We will use video footage to identify all those who had committed violent acts on the streets of Belgrade”.
Vladimir Rebić added that the police managed to restore order in a few hours and detain 23 people.
In inciting the riots and the storming of the Parliament building are suspected former MPs and opposition activists, and Daniel Knezevic, Srdjan Nogo, which was previously put forward conspiracy theories related to vaccination from COVID-19 and the 5G network.
we will Remind, on Tuesday July 7, the Serbian President announced a record since the start of the pandemic 13 deaths from the coronavirus in the country. In addition, he said that in hospitals there are about 4 thousand people, 120 of which is connected to the ventilators.
Previously Alexander Vucic called the epidemiological situation in Belgrade and in four Serbian cities “alarm” and “critical”. According to him, the city’s medical facilities are close to the limit of their capabilities. That is why the leader of Serbia adopted the decision to impose long curfews. Moreover, from July 8 begins to act, the ban on meetings of more than 5 persons.
Opponents Vucic accused him that the quarantine concessions in the country has occurred too early. The Serbian leader was allowed to spend football games with the audience, and also removed some restrictions on movement ahead of parliamentary elections on 21 June, in which the ruling Serbian progressive party (SPP), headed by him, won a landslide victory.
