Belgrade, Serbia (AP) – Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic On Sunday, announced difficult measures against the antigan -government demonstrators after the days riots in the streets Throughout Serbia, which disputed its increasingly autocratic reign in the Balkan land.
Thousands of people challenged the threat of Vucic of a repression and later protested Sunday in various Serbian cities, including the capital Belgrade. By shouting “Arrest Vucic”, the demonstrators demanded that all those detained in the past few days were released. No incident has been reported.
In one of his frequent televisions addressed to the public, Vucic accused the anti-government demonstrators of “pure terrorism” and reiterated his claims according to which month of persistent protests Against his reign, he was orchestrated in the West and aimed at destroying Serbia.
“Our country is in serious danger, they have compromised all our values, normal life, each individual,” said Vucic, alleging an elaborate program that would end up installing “anarcho-leftists” authorities in the future. He did not propose any concrete evidence for his claims.
“Unless we take more difficult measures, this is a question of days when they (the demonstrators) will kill someone,” said Vucic. “I say that for the story.”
The severe warnings came after five consecutive nights of clashes between the demonstrators on one side and the police and the loyalists of Vucic on the other. Angry demonstrators on Saturday evening The offices of the Serbian progressive party governing Vucic de Vucic In a city in western Serbia and other allies of the ruling coalition.
On Saturday evening, demonstrators also clashed with the police in Belgrade, the capital and in the northern city of Novi Sad. The riot agents used tear gas against demonstrators who launched grenades, lighting rockets and bottles.
Vucic did not specify what will be the response of the State which, according to him, would come in a week. But he pointed out that a state of emergency is not imminent. Dozens of people have already been detained and injured in recent days while the police have faced charges of Excessive force and arbitrary detentions demonstrators.
“You will attend the determination of the state of Serbia,” said Vucic. “We will use everything at our disposal to restore peace and order in the country.”
The clashes this week marked a major escalation after more than nine months of largely peaceful demonstrations that started after A concrete canopy collapsed In a station in northern Serbia, killing 16 people.
Many in Serbia have blamed the tragedy of an alleged corruption widespread in the infrastructure projects managed by the State which, according to them, have fueled a bad renovation work. The Serbian President was faced with accusations Small democratic freedoms While allowing organized crime and corruption of prospering. He denied this.
Serbia officially seeks membership in the EU, but Vucic has maintained close links with Russia and China. On Sunday, he praised Russia’s support for his government against what he called a “colorful revolution” against his government.
