European Democrats
The European Democratic Party condemned on April 5 a statement by Serbian Minister Boris Bratina, noting that it "sparked outrage and calls for his immediate dismissal across Serbia. "At a time when students and young people are peacefully protesting, such rhetoric contributes to a dangerous climate in which police violence is legitimized rather than prevented," reads a statement by the European Democrats on the X social media network.
Their statement was a response to the minister saying that the students in Serbia did not realize that the police had the right to beat and kill them in moments when someone was selling them anarchist ideology. The European Democrats added that the statement came amid rising concerns among international organizations over the use of force, intimidation of the media and pressure on civil society in Serbia.
European Democratic Party general secretary Sandro Gozi called Bratina's statements "shocking and unacceptable." "No democratic government can suggest, explicitly or implicitly, that violence against its own citizens — especially young people — is justified. This is a red line," Gozi said, adding that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic bore full political responsibility and that Bratina must be sacked without delay unless he immediately withdrew the statement.
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