(Belgrade) New clashes erupted Wednesday evening in Belgrade during a rally of protesters furious at the management by the authorities of the coronavirus crisis, the police firing tear gas against protesters throwing stones and firecrackers.
Posted on July 8 2020 at 9 a.m. 29 Updated to 16 h 26
France Media Agency
Protesters had gathered in front of the Parliament the day after a first outburst of anger against the announcement by President Aleksandar Vucic of the reintroduction of a full curfew during the weekend in order to fight against a resurgence of the pandemic.
The Serbian head of state appeared to distance himself from the announcement on Wednesday, saying that the final decision on possible containment would rest with his government, but that was not enough to calm the spirits.
His critics accuse him of having favored a second wave of the epidemic by quickly lifting the initial confinement in order to be able to organize the elections of 21 June, largely won by his Serbian Progress Party (SNS).
Thousands of protesters initially met peacefully at the call of the Alliance for Serbia, the main coalition of opposition parties that boycotted the elections by accusing the growing authoritarianism, report journalists of AFP.
But once the main body of troops had left, clashes had set up riot police against groups of demonstrators in the streets surrounding the Parliament. Police fired tear gas at rockets, firecrackers and flares. The city center was filled with thick smoke.
PHOTO MARKO DJURICA, REUTERS
The police fired bursts of tear gas against protesters armed with stones, firecrackers and flares.
“Serious concerns”
An opposition leader who boycotted the legislative elections, Bosko Obradovic, told the N1 television channel that he had been hit by the police.
The day before, a peaceful demonstration had also degenerated into a pitched battle between police and protesters. Around 60 demonstrators and police were injured while around 20 people were arrested. A small group of protesters broke into the parliament before being turned back.
In a television allowance, the head of state said he was personally in favor of a weekend curfew to fight the pandemic. But, he added, the government unit responsible for managing the health crisis “will probably decide tomorrow (Thursday) more severe measures without introducing a curfew”.
He also denounced the “most brutal political violence of the last years”, declaring without further precision that “foreign elements” had fomented the incidents alongside the far right “profascist”.
The police were accused of violence after the N1 channel broadcast images of beatings, in particular of the police hitting three young men with a baton on the bench.
Aleksandar Vucic acknowledged that some police officers had “failed” in their mission, assuring that they should be held accountable.
Overwhelmed hospitals
Beyond the overflows, demonstrators expressed their resentment at the management of the pandemic by the authorities.
“Our government is only looking to protect its interests, people are collateral damage,” said Jelina Jankovic, a protester from 52 years.
“We've had enough of the manipulation of COVID figures – 19 “, added Danijela Ognjenovic, 52 years. “People are very angry.”
After having mastered the first wave of the virus at the beginning of May, Serbia officially passed from around fifty daily contaminations a month ago to approximately 350 currently.
Aleksander Vucic spoke of hospitals overwhelmed by almost 4000 COVID patients – 19.
The new wave came within the framework of a rapid deconfinement authorized by the authorities, with for example mass sporting events including a tennis tournament organized by the star Novak Djokovic, declared positive a few days later.
Senior political officials were also declared positive after the celebrations of the electoral victory of the ruling party.
The pandemic has infected approximately 17 000 people and officially made 341 dead.