Incident Involving Regime Supporters and Opposition MPs in Front of Parliament

Camp in Front of Parliament (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

In the morning hours of Nov. 26, an incident occurred in front of the Serbian National Assembly, in downtown Belgrade, when supporters of the ruling coalition camping in front of the building attacked opposition MPs who were on their way to a sitting to discuss the national budget.

According to video footage posted on social media, MPs from the Freedom and Justice Party and Serbia Center party removed the metal fencing obstructing access to the Parliament’s main entry, then proceeded toward the building, also stopping to remove the tent where Serbian Progressive Party MP Ugljesa Mrdic had stayed during the hunger strike he ended last week.

In response, several dozens of the people staying in so-called Caciland – the illegal pro-regime camp that has occupied Pioneers’ Park, the plateau in front of Parliament and a section of the capital’s main boulevard – rushed the opposition MPs, yelling insults. A physical altercation was prevented by police and unidentified persons wearing fluorescent vests.

An improvised encampment, Caciland was erected in March to prevent the country’s protesting university students and supporters of the opposition from gathering in front of Serbia’s National Assembly and the New Palace, which houses the president’s offices.