Ivica Dacic (BetaPhoto/Serbian Ministry of Interior)
Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dacic said on Sept. 4 that following the protests against lithium mining only two persons have been kept in custody: one, a Subotica native who was part of a group planning to attack the police and the other the driver who injured several people with his car during the blockage of Belgrade’s Gazela Bridge.
“Now hold on, what repression? The police didn’t hurt or arrest anyone. Things are being twisted when the bottom line is that we are protecting the law and the Constitution, which guarantee the freedom to gather and express political opinions but only in a lawful manner,” Dacic told Pink TV.
In the wake of the large-scale protest in Belgrade on Aug. 10, the authorities took action against dozens of activists following the same pattern: the individuals were called in for questioning but then released, criminal reports for undermining the constitutional order were filed against them, and their homes were searched and mobile phones confiscated.
The opposition Green-Left Front party has announced that MPs will have the opportunity to question Dacic about the “mass arrests of activists” at a meeting of the National Assembly’s Committee for Defense and Internal Affairs scheduled for Sept. 6, at the behest of six opposition caucuses.
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