Serbian opposition: Protest incidents caused the authorities' “huligians”

The coalition “Serbia against violence” (SPN) claims the incidents in the opposition protest in Belgrade on December 24th were caused by “huligians sent by the government”.

“Authorities used violence to present peaceful protests as violent”, the SPN statement said.

This coalition added that “the deployment of hooligans” to trigger incidents in protest has been used by the government to undermine the protest initiative that requires repeat the December 17th elections.

“The regime of the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vuciq, has once again shown his true, violent face”, the coalition “said. Serbia against violence” on December 25th.

SPN: Bold Power Used

The SPN statement says special units have used brutal force against citizens.

The “E beat one of the demonstrators and broke his leg, kicking him while he was lying on the ground. After the protest, police also attacked Radomir Lazovaj from the May Green Front”, the SPN report said.

This political coalition stated that a large number of peaceful citizens, for whom it warned, have been arrested.

Despite the cost, we will never accept the theft that was organised in the December 17th elections,”, the SPN said.

Shapiq: The police were tolerant

Aleksandar Shapiq, official of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and chairman of the Belgrade City's Acting Authority, said police responded to the protests in the most tolerant manner possible.

“Such demonstrates have nothing to do with elections, because it is about overthrowing the state by a group of”, Shapiq said.

More than 30 demonstrators have been arrested during the opposition coalition protest “Serbia against violence” on 24 December in Belgrade.

During the protest, a group of masked people have attempted to enter the Belgrade Assembly, have broken windows and doors, while police inside the building have thrown tear gas at them.

Police later stood in front of the Belgrade Assembly and removed those gathered from that part of the city where the Serbian Presidency, Parliament of Serbia buildings and the Republican Election Commission headquarters are located. Police said seven police officers were left injured.

This was the seventh opposition protest in Serbia's capital, with the request to cancel elections held on December 17th. Serbia's “list against violence” claims that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) stole the elections, among other things, effectively registering their voters from countries outside Serbia.