Serbia’s opposition says Russia is trying to impose its authoritarian and repressive model everywhere.
Protests continue in Serbia. All because of the parliamentary and local elections held on December 17, which, according to the Central Election Commission, Aleksandar Vucic’s party won again. Protesters accuse the authorities of large-scale fraud. The authorities have warned that they will not allow a Serbian Maidan to take place.
Clashes began
On the night of December 24, clashes broke out between protesters and the police. Many people were injured and dozens were arrested. On December 25, several hundred students blocked the streets near the building of the Serbian Ministry of State and Local Self-Government.
The opposition insists that its protests are intended to be peaceful and asks its supporters to avoid provocations from the authorities, trying to portray what is happening as an aggressive attempt at revolution.
According to the opposition candidate for mayor of Belgrade, Vladimir Obradovic, the opposition representatives demand that the Serbian government appoint a negotiating group to overcome the electoral crisis.
Russia’s position
Moscow is adding fuel to the fire. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the West of wanting to create trouble in the Balkans and implement a Serbian version of the Maidan.
Serbia’s opposition says Moscow is trying to impose its authoritarian and repressive model everywhere. The word Maidan has been really actively used recently by both the authorities and the opposition.
The opposition and its supporters do not believe in the legitimate victory of Vucic’s party, which has ruled the country for more than ten years, and wants to achieve the re-election of Moscow’s friend.
But in addition, many are tired of the course of Vucic, an ally of Moscow, and want a different place for Serbia in European politics.
“It is important to understand that in a repressive and undemocratic regime, when all legal avenues for opposition action are blocked and violence is used against citizens, the only answer is symmetrical action,” said Nebojsa Vladisavljevic , a professor at the Faculty of Political Science. .
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic made a statement amid mass clashes in Belgrade. In his speech, he said that “no revolution is happening” and that “the state is strong enough” to “defend democracy, the electoral will of the people, Serbia and Belgrade.”
He accused the opposition of “wanting to destroy cities and countries.”
“We said the other day that they are preparing for this because they know that they will not win the trust of the people. Thanks to the foreign services that… gave information to our services,” Vucic said.
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said that Russian intelligence services provided Serbian authorities with information about possible incidents in the protests in Belgrade.
Belgrade’s acting mayor Aleksandar Sapic called opposition protests in the Serbian capital “Maidanization” and revealed “irreparable” damage to the city hall building.
On Monday, Vucic met with Russia’s ambassador to the country, Aleksandar Bocan-Harchenko, and spoke about recent nightly opposition protests in Belgrade.
According to him, during the meeting he and the Russian ambassador “exchanged views on bilateral relations, the situation in the region and current geopolitical events.”
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.