Serbian Public Demands Accountability and Policy Changes
In response to two devastating mass shootings, tens of thousands of Serbs took to the streets of Belgrade for the country’s fifth mass rally in a month. The demonstrators urged the government to take a tougher stance on gun control laws. Despite the growing public outcry and demands for his resignation, populist President Aleksandar Vucic dismissed any responsibility for the crisis.
Marching Against Violence and President Vucic
Led by university students carrying a banner that read “Serbia against violence!,” the protesters marched through Belgrade, eventually congregating in front of President Vucic’s downtown headquarters. The crowd vociferously chanted slogans against the president and released a large balloon with the message “Vucic Go Away.” The opposition demonstrators called for the resignation of senior government officials and the revocation of broadcasting licenses for television networks that they believe promote violence and glorify criminal figures.
Concerns Over Infiltration and Nationalist Groups
During the most recent protest, which was expected to be the largest so far, independent journalists observed the infiltration of right-wing groups advocating their nationalist agenda. Analysts suspect some of these groups have close ties to Serbia’s security service. There were reports of ultranationalist supporters attacking a foreign journalist, with some attackers donning T-shirts featuring the Russian Z symbol associated with Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Continued Pressure and Calls for Resignation
As darkness descended, participants illuminated the march with their cell phones, holding them high while proceeding through central Belgrade and passing the presidency building. The protesters blew whistles and called for President Vucic’s resignation. Many left messages addressed to Vucic, demanding his resignation, on pieces of paper left at the presidency. The opposition is planning another protest for the following week, which poses a significant challenge to Vucic and represents one of the most substantial opposition movements during his 11-year tenure in power.
Controversy Surrounding Vucic and Gun Control Measures
The opposition accuses Vucic of fostering intolerance and hate speech during his increasingly autocratic rule, while also asserting that he has unlawfully seized control of all state institutions. President Vucic denies these allegations and claims that opposition groups are seeking to forcibly overthrow him. The recent shootings on May 3 and 4, where a 13-year-old boy opened fire at an elementary school, killing nine people, and a 20-year-old targeted individuals in two villages, resulting in eight deaths, have shocked the nation. In response, authorities have implemented stricter gun control measures, including enhanced regulations for gun owners and shooting ranges, a moratorium on new licenses, and harsher penalties for illegal weapons possession.
Moving Forward: Seeking Truth, Justice, and Security
Popular Serbian actor Dragan Bjelogrlic addressed the crowd, emphasizing the debt owed to the victims of the shootings. He called for truth, justice, and the fulfillment of promises not granted to the children while they were alive. The government has also increased police presence in schools to restore a sense of security in the aftermath of the tragic incidents. Serbia’s struggle with an abundance of weapons leftover from the 1990s conflicts, including rocket launchers and hand grenades, highlights the need for comprehensive gun control measures to prevent further tragedies.
SOURCE: Images – google images
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