Vucic: Progressives Won’t Organize Rally in Belgrade on June 28 

Aleksandar Vucic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian president and a member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, on June 17 said that the authorities would not organize a rally in Belgrade on June 28, Saint Vitus Day and the day of the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, for to avoid potential fall outs with protesting students, who had announced a protest in the capital for the same date. 

Vucic told state public broadcaster RTS that the Government did not want to increase tensions. “We are considering Novi Sad as a place for holding a gathering, either on June 28 or July 5. We absolutely wish to avoid any conflict because we are responsible people,” Vucic said. Students have announced a protest in Belgrade on June 28, with some media outlets reporting that the Progressives are also planning to gather on the same date. 

Vucic said that the Progressives had never organized a counter-meeting, nor would do so on June 28. He added that in three months, he would be “physically defending the protesters setting up blockades from angered citizens,” adding that “the colored revolution has been defeated,” and that the country’s economy had started to recover. 

Vucic also said that “those who have damaged our university and education system,” and “those who have compromised all other state institutions” would be brought to justice. “So, this means from Radio and Television of Serbia, prosecutor’s offices, the judiciary, the police force, to many other public sector bodies. The time for holding those people accountable is coming and it appears to me that it is the best news for Serbia’s citizens,” Vucic said.