Novi Sad Opposition Gives Regime 48 Hours to Meet Demands

Novi Sad (BETAPHOTO/Dragan Gojic)

Novi Sad’s united opposition described the city’s Oct. 5 rally as “magnificent” and announced that “the countdown has begun” on the 48-hour deadline given to the authorities to meet the protesters’ demands.

“The picture of Novi Sad that has travelled the world, [showing] tens of thousands of people expressing their sympathy to the families of the killed and demanding political and criminal accountability for those responsible for the greatest peacetime tragedy in Novi Sad history – will not be undermined by the savagery of regime thugs and their destructive assault on City Hall, the symbol of Novi Sad,” the opposition said it its statement.

While the rally began peacefully in front of the Novi Sad Railway Station, where the collapse of a concrete overhang killed 14 on Nov. 1, the ensuing protest march saw some masked protesters throwing rocks, torches and red paint at the City Hall. The glass panes of its front door were broken and attempts were made to set fire to the interior of the landmark building.

The opposition claims the attack was instigated by the regime.

The numerous police stationed on site responded to the vandalism with tear gas and arrests.

After trying to prevent two officers from taking a protester into custody and demanding they produce their official IDs, opposition politician and former vice president of Vojvodina’s government Goran Jesic was also arrested.

For their part, the authorities maintain that all incidents that took place during the rally were caused by the opposition, which staged the protests, while President Aleksandar Vucic also visited the city in the evening of Oct. 5 and addressed his supporters in front of the local chapter of the Serbian Progressive Party.