People Rally at Novi Sad Courthouse in Support of Assault Victim

Novi Sad Courthouse (BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

Along with members of the general public, Novi Sad University students who have been blockading their schools for half a year now have rallied in front of Novi Sad’s Courthouse in a show of support to their fellow-student Ana. In late January, Ana’s jaw was broken in a baseball bat attack by activists of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, whose trial continues on May 28.

In front of the Courthouse, the demonstrators have erected a large representation of the scales of justice, positioning sandwiches and money on one plate and a student ID booklet on the other.

The pan with the student ID is represented as heavier than the one with money and sandwiches – the latter an allusion to the regime’s custom of providing subs and pay to those who attend their rallies.

The four defendants currently on trial have been jailed since their arrest. President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic recently called them “heroes.”

In the night of January 27, two attacks were carried out against Novi Sad’s protesting students: one in front of the local Progressive chapter and another near Petefi Sandor Elementary School, when the assailants used baseball bats and Ana was grievously injured.

Following the incident, both prime minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad mayor Milan Djuric resigned from office. Djuric remains a member of the Serbian Progressive Party, while Vucevic is the party’s president.