Student protest in over 30 Serbian cities: Statement of Early Elections Required

In more than 30 cities of Serbia, citizens are holding protests, with the call of students holding blockades, calling on authorities to declare early parliamentary elections.

The call for collective action took place exactly seven months after the collapse of the shelter at the railway station in Novi Sad, where 16 people lost their lives and another was seriously injured.

Protests in all Serbian cities are set to last three hours, and then hold a 16-minute summit for the victims, followed. Periscope.

Belgrade Bridge Blocking

In Belgrade, about 600 protesters have blocked two of Branko's most frequent bridges.

Bridge protesters are cheering the slogan “

Aleksandar Jeremic, a citizen from Belgrade, went to protest with his friends. He said he hopes that the demand for early elections, raised by students, will be realised.

This is an idea that I support, but they [the students] have energy. They're leading this, we're here to support them. This protest is just one step in this process”, he told Radio Free Europe.

Election Request, Even Novi Sad

In Novi Sad, students and citizens blocked one of the main nodes in the centre of the city.

A student at the Jurydical Faculty addressed the audience, stressing that a democratic society means monitoring power and seeking accountability.

It's time to remember that we see and want early elections. The time is for us to organise and make it clear that we will not tolerate electoral irregularities and that the Constitution will be respected”, he said.

Organising the protest in Novi Sad supported united citizens at local assemblies. A representative also called for election announcements.

This is from Novi Sad, but other cities are protesting at the same time. There is no more day to wait. You only have to declare the selection”, she said.

Massive student protests in Pozharevc

In Pozharevc, the protest began earlier in the day and is projected to last 13 hours. Students and students from other towns are taking part in the protest, from Cacak came runners with staff, while from Belgrade and Jagodina, protesters traveling on foot.

Citizens were received with a welcoming ceremony the day before.

Organisers plan to read similar talks in all cities.

Serbian Government Reactions, Public Support

Serbia's Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabyq, from the ruling party, reacted by calling it the blocking of bridges in Belgrade “the concern of meaningless and intentional citizens”. In a post of social networking she described the protest as “raped for the sake of violence, with life philosophy we can, we are arrogant and insensitive”.

Serbian students, who for more than six months are blocking public faculties and organising protests across Serbia, enjoy the support of hundreds of thousands of citizens, including local groups, farmers, lawyers, actors, and others.

In early May, students called for early parliamentary elections, stressing that due to the deep-rooted <x0-corruption”, institutions are unable to act freely to respond to their demands.

Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq said on May 16th that elections will be held within a year and a half, when relevant institutions make decisions.

For students, the main requirement remains determining criminal and political responsibility for deaths at the railway station in Novi Sad.

Authorities have stated several times that students' demands have been met, but students have rejected these claims and have decided to continue with protests and blockades. /REL/