2023–2024 Serbian election protests

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2023–2024 Serbian election protests
Part of
Resulted inNew elections called by the ruling party
Parties

Anti-government protesters

  • Citizens

Opposition organisations

Lead figures
Casualties
Injuries7 police officers severely injured
Arrested38 protesters arrested

In December 2023, a series of mass protests began in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, after the parliamentary and Belgrade City Assembly elections on 17 December. The protests have been organised by the Serbia Against Violence (SPN) coalition, which called for the annulment of the election results.

According to monitoring and non-governmental organisations, the election day was marked with electoral fraud. This prompted SPN to organise protests, which began on 18 December. Since then, seven representatives of SPN began a hunger strike, demanding the annulment of the election results. Marinika Tepić has been on a hunger strike since the beginning of the protests. An unsuccessful attempt to enter the building of the City Assembly of Belgrade violently occurred on 24 December. The riot resulted in the arrest of 38 demonstrators.

Background

A

populist coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) came to power after the 2012 parliamentary election, along with the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS).[1][2] In May 2023, a school shooting occurred in the Vračar municipality of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and a mass murder in the villages of Dubona, Mladenovac and Malo Orašje, Smederevo.[3][4] Mass protests, named Serbia Against Violence, began shortly after the shootings.[5][6] These protests lasted until November 2023.[7]

Amidst the protests, opposition parties organising the protests formed the

CeSID, CRTA, and Kreni-Promeni organisations.[10][11][12] Among the irregularities reported by domestic and international observers were vote buying and ballot-box stuffing. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) stated that the electoral campaign was characterized by "harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources".[13] The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights concluded that SNS had a "systematic advantage which created unfair conditions in the elections" and that Aleksandar Vučić, the president of Serbia, heavily dominated the election campaign, despite not being a candidate in it.[14] Stefan Schennach [de], the chief of the delegation of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that monitored the elections, said that "the elections were not fair" and that "the victory in Belgrade was stolen from the opposition".[15][16] Vučić and SNS denied all of the electoral fraud allegations.[11] Ana Brnabić, the prime minister of Serbia, accused the opposition and CRTA of "destabilising Serbia and its constitutional order".[17]

Timeline

First week

The first protest was organised by SPN outside of the building of the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) on 18 December.[18] At the protest, SPN announced that they would reject the Belgrade City Assembly election results, citing irregularities that took place during the election, while they also demanded the annulment of the election results and the "cleaning" and updating of the voters list.[18] Marinika Tepić and Miroslav Aleksić, the main representatives of SPN, announced that they would go on a hunger strike until their demands are to be accepted; Aleksić, however, later announced that he would go on a "strict fast" instead of a hunger strike.[19][20] Tepić continued her hunger strike inside the RIK building.[18] The protest was met with a few incidents; a group of demonstrators that gathered at the protest threw eggs, tomatoes, and toilet papers at the RIK building.[18][19] Miladin Kovačević, the director of the Republic Bureau of Statistics, was also physically attacked by a demonstrator.[19] The police heavily guarded the building during the protest.[19]

Protests continued to be organised by SPN outside the RIK building; they were also joined by the Students Against Violence organisation, which renamed itself to Struggle (Borba) amidst the protests.

National Assembly of Serbia Jelena Milošević and Danijela Grujić began their hunger strike at the protest on 21 December.[25] At the same protest, SPN representatives called for the European Union to not accept the results and conduct an international investigation.[26] Besides the protest in Belgrade, there was also a protest in Niš on 22 December.[27] Janko Veselinović and Željko Veselinović also began their hunger strike on 22 December.[28] At the protest a day later, Branko Miljuš and Dušan Nikezić, who were elected to the National Assembly in the 2023 election on behalf of SPN, also began their hunger strike.[29]

According to the Archive of Public Gatherings, which is presided by journalist Aleksandar Gubaš, the protest on 24 December was attended by approximately 7,100 demonstrators; Vučić claimed that only 2,490 demonstrators were present at the protest.[30] The protest was announced by Aleksić two days prior due to the deadline for the annulment of the election results.[31] The protest began again in front of the RIK building where Tepić, Aleksić, Srđan Milivojević, and Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta gave their speeches.[32] Aleksić called for the demonstrators to circle the building of the City Assembly of Belgrade while that Vladimir Obradović, a member of the Temporary Council of Belgrade, and other councillors would enter the building to give a speech from a balcony inside the building.[32] The building was however armed inside with the police and gendarmery, which did not allow Obradović, Aleksić, and Milivojević to enter the building.[32]

A group of demonstrators set off a riot at the protest and they tried to enter the building violently.[32][33] In response to the attempt to enter the building of the City Assembly of Belgrade, Vučić issued an urgent statement, saying that it was an attempt to overthrow the government.[32][34] Police brutality was seen later in the protest; the police and gendarmery attacked demonstrators and used tear gas, pepper spray, and baton.[35][36][37][38] Out of opposition representatives, Ćuta was hit with tear gas while Radomir Lazović and Željko Vagić, the president of the Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP) board in the Belgrade municipality of Grocka, were attacked by the gendarmery.[39][40][41] Aleksandar Šapić, the president of the Temporary Council of Belgrade and former mayor of Belgrade, gave a press conference inside the City Assembly building once the protest ended.[32]

Dragan Đilas, the president of SSP, claimed that the rioters were sent by a group of convicted criminal Đorđe Prelić; Đilas also alleged that Šapić had connections to Prelić, though, Šapić denied this.[42][43] The head of the Police Administration, Ivica Ivković, accused SPN of being behind the riot.[44] Ivković informed that 38 demonstrators were arrested and the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed that 7 police officers were injured.[45][46]

Second week

Roadblocks organised by the Students Against Violence organisation were held in front of the building of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government (MDULS) and later in the Kneza Miloša Street on 25 December.[47][48] Another protest organised by SPN was held on the same day.[49]

Reactions

Domestic reactions

Government

Vladimir Dimitrijević, the president of RIK, said that RIK and the Belgrade City Election Commission do not have the right to annul the Belgrade City Assembly elections and that they could instead only annul the results at certain voting stations.[50] MDULS also said that the voters list is up-to-date and declined the claim that "phantom voters" exist.[51]

Commenting on Tepić's hunger strike, Vučić said that "she is free to stop her hunger strike and get back to her duties" and reminded that Tomislav Nikolić's hunger strike in 2011 "did not achieve anything but it only deteriorated his health".[52] Amidst the 24 December protest, Ivica Dačić, the deputy prime minister and president of the Socialist Party of Serbia, said that "Socialist Party of Serbia and I, as its president, strongly condemn the attempt to forcibly occupy the City Assembly of Belgrade".[53] Šapić said that the election protests "are the beginning of a civil war" and compared them to Euromaidan.[54] Brnabić also compared the protests to Euromaidan.[55]

Opposition

Besides SPN, opposition parties and coalitions such as the National Democratic Alternative (NADA), People's Party, Social Democratic Party, and Dveri expressed their support for rejecting the 2023 election results.[56] Miloš Jovanović, one of the representative of the NADA coalition, expressed his support for holding new elections and said that citizens have a right to resist and organise peaceful protests.[54][57]

Foreign reactions

The protests were strongly criticised by Russia.[58][59] Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of Vladimir Putin, accused foreign powers of staging the protests in Belgrade, while Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs of Russia, accused "the West of setting a fire to the already tense enough political situation in Serbia".[60][61] Brnabić thanked the Russian Federal Security Service for providing information to the government of Serbia.[62] After Vučić's meeting with Russian ambassador Alexander Bocan Harchenko on 25 December, Bocan Harchenko said that Vučić informed him that "the incitement to riots came from the West".[63]

References

  1. ^ "Izbori 2012: Rezultati i postizborna trgovina" [2012 elections: Results and post-election trade]. Vreme (in Serbian). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Srbija ima novu vladu" [Serbia has a new government]. Deutsche Welle (in Serbian). 27 July 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Belgrade shooting: Teen made 'kill list' for Serbia school attack". BBC News. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  4. ^ Dragojlo, Saša (5 May 2023). "Second Mass Shooting in Two Days Stuns Serbia, Killing Eight". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Protest protiv nasilja: Građani tražili ostavke, organizatori – na ulici 50.000" [Protest against violence: Citizens demanded resignations, organisers – there are 50,000 demonstrators on the streets]. N1 (in Serbian). 8 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Srbija i protesti: Desetine hiljada ljudi pod kišobranima zahteva promene, ostavke, "prsten" oko RTS-a" [Serbia and protests: Tens of thousands of people under umbrellas demand change]. BBC News (in Serbian). 27 May 2023. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Poslednji protest "Srbija protiv nasilja" u ovom formatu: Građanima poručeno "Nemojte da prespavate 17. decembar"" [The last "Serbia Against Violence" protest in this format: Citizens said "don't sleep through 17 December"]. N1 (in Serbian). 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
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  10. ^ "CeSID dosad zabeležio više od 50 nepravilnosti na izborima" [So far, CeSID recorded more than 50 irregularities in the elections]. N1 (in Serbian). 17 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  11. ^
    ISSN 0261-3077
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  12. ^ Kirby, Paul; Delauney, Guy (17 December 2023). "Serbia election: Vucic claims big election victory for ruling party". BBC News. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  13. ^ Jones, Mared Gwyn (19 December 2023). "Brussels calls on Serbia to probe electoral fraud reports". Euronews.
  14. ^ "ODIHR: Ozbiljne neregularnosti na izborima, predsednik doneo prednost jednoj listi" [ODIHR: Serious irregularities in the elections, the president favoured only one list]. N1 (in Serbian). 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Šef posmatračke delegacije: Istina je šokantna, video sam listiće napravljene u kopirnici" [Head of the observation delegation: The truth is shocking, I saw ballots made in the copy shop]. N1 (in Serbian). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  16. ^ fon Namen, Aleksandra (19 December 2023). "Šenah za DW: Pobeda u Beogradu ukradena je opoziciji" [Schennach for DW: The victory in Belgrade was stolen from the opposition]. Deutsche Welle (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Brnabić: Opozicija, CRTA i druge NVO pokušavaju da destabilizuju zemlju" [Brnabić: The opposition, CRTA and other NGOs are trying to destabilize the country]. Tanjug (in Serbian). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  18. ^ a b c d "Protesti opozicije pred zgradom RIK-a, traže poništavanje izbora u Beogradu" [Protest of the opposition in front of the RIK building, they are demanding the annulling of the elections in Belgrade]. Al Jazeera (in Serbian). 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d "Deo opozicije sa protesta traži poništavanje izbora u Beogradu, dvoje lidera štrajkuje glađu" [Part of the opposition is demanding the annulment of the elections in Belgrade from the protest, two leaders are on hunger strike]. Radio Free Europe (in Serbian). 18 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Miroslav Aleksić: Marinika štrajkuje glađu, ja sam na strogom postu" [Miroslav Aleksić: Marinika is on hunger strike, I am on a strict fast]. Vreme (in Serbian). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Drugi protest u Beogradu zbog navoda o izbornoj krađi" [Second protest in Belgrade due to allegations of election theft]. Radio Free Europe (in Serbian). 19 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  22. ^ Petrović, Ivica (19 December 2023). "Protesti u Srbiji: Dio opozicije traži poništavanje izbora" [Protests in Serbia: Part of the opposition demands the annulment of the election]. Deutsche Welle (in Bosnian). Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  23. ^ Stevanović, Lena (20 December 2023). "Danas saznaje: Grupa "Studenti protiv nasilja" postaje pokret "Borba"" [Danas learns: Group "Students Against Violence" became the "Struggle" movement]. Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Sa trećeg protesta ispred RIK-a u Beogradu zatraženo poništavanje izbora na svim nivoima" [With the third protest in front of the RIK in Belgrade, the annulment of the elections at all levels was requested]. Radio Free Europe (in Serbian). 20 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  25. ^ "Četvrti protest u Beogradu zbog navoda izbornoj krađi, još dve opozicione poslanice štrajkuju glađu" [The fourth protest in Belgrade due to allegations of election theft, two more opposition MPs are on hunger strike]. Radio Free Europe (in Serbian). 21 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Četvrti protest ispred RIK-a, SPN traži od EU da ne prizna rezultate, još dve poslanice štrajkuju glađu" [The fourth protest in front of the RIK, SPN asks the EU not to recognize the results, two more MPs are on hunger strike]. Voice of America (in Serbian). 21 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  27. ^ "Peti protest ispred RIK-a u Beogradu, podrška SPN-u i iz Niša" [The fifth protest in front of the RIK in Belgrade, support for the SPN from Niš as well]. Radio Television of Serbia (in Serbian). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  28. ^ "U štrajk glađu stupaju i Janko Veselinović i Željko Veselinović" [Janko Veselinović and Željko Veselinović also go on hunger strike]. N1 (in Serbian). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  29. ^ "Još jedan protest ispred RIK-a, u nedelju ističe rok za poništavanje izbora, u suprotnom – blokade" [Another protest in front of the RIK, the deadline for annulment of the election expires on Sunday, otherwise – blockades]. Voice of America (in Serbian). 23 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  30. ^ "Arhiv javnih skupova: Na protestu ispred Skupštine grada 7.100 građana" [Archive of Public gatherings: 7,100 citizens protested in front of the City Assembly]. N1 (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  31. ^ "Opozicija najavila veliki protest u nedelju: "Ističe rok da se ponište izbori"" [The opposition announced a big protest on Sunday: "The deadline to cancel the elections is running out"]. N1 (in Serbian). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  32. ^ a b c d e f "Policija rasterala demonstrante, protest završen: Ima uhapšenih i povređenih" [The police dispersed the protesters, the protest is over: There are arrests and injuries]. N1 (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  33. ^ Edwards, Christian; Pennington, Josh (25 December 2023). "Demonstrators try to storm Belgrade city hall in protest against "stolen" Serbian elections". CNN. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  34. ^ Stojanović, Dušan (24 December 2023). "Police in Serbia fire tear gas at election protesters threatening to storm capital's city hall". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  35. ^ "Policija tukla demonstrante, prve informacije – ima uhapšenih i povređenih" [The police beat the demonstrators, the first information – there are arrests and injuries]. N1 (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  36. ^ "Šta je to biber sprej i kako deluje kad vas isprskaju njim" [What is pepper spray and how does it work when you are sprayed with it]. NOVA portal (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  37. ^ "Suzavac, privođenja i razbijena stakla na protestu opozicije u Beogradu" [Tear gas, arrests, and broken windows at the opposition protest in Belgrade]. Voice of America (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  38. ^ Gec, Jovana (25 December 2023). "Serbia police detain at least 38 people as opposition plans more protests against election results". Associated Press. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  39. ^ "Ćuta: Nema razilaženja večeras, ovo jedino otpor građana može da reši" [Ćuta: We are not leaving tonight, only the resistance of the citizens can solve this]. N1 (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  40. ^ "Lazović kaže da ga je napala Žandarmerija: Nisu se osvrtali na to što je sam poslanik" [Lazović says that he was attacked by the gendarmery: They didn't look back on the fact that I am a member of parliament]. N1 (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  41. ^ "Policija pretukla predsednika SSP-a Grocka na protestu sinoć: "Oborili su me na zemlju i tukli, slomljena mi je noga"" [The police beat SSP President in Grocka at the protest last night: "They knocked me to the ground and beat me, my leg was broken"]. NOVA portal (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  42. ^ "Đilas: Nerede izazvali huligani Đorđa Prelića koji su poslati da prave incidente" [Đilas: The riots were caused by Đorđe Prelić's hooligans who were sent to create incidents]. N1 (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  43. ^ "Šapić demantuje Đilasa u vezi s Prelićem: Od sad ćemo malo drugačije da razgovaramo" [Šapić denies Đilas regarding Prelić: From now on, we will talk a little differently]. N1 (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  44. ^ "Policija optužila "Srbiju protiv nasilja" da je izazvala nerede: "Pokazali pravo lice i namere"" [Police accused "Serbia Against Violence" of causing riots: "They showed their true colors and intentions"]. N1 (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  45. ^ "Procesuirano 38 ljudi sa protesta u Beogradu" [38 people from the protest in Belgrade have been processed]. Radio Free Europe (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  46. ^ "Sedam policajaca povređeno tokom protesta u Beogradu" [Seven policemen were injured during the protest in Belgrade]. Radio Slobodna Evropa (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  47. ^ Radovanović, Vojin; Vukajlović, Nađa; Stevanović, Lena (25 December 2023). "Blokada u ulici Kneza Miloša završena: Demonstranti se uputili ka zgradi RIK-a" [The blockade in Kneza Miloša Street is over: The demonstrators headed for the RIK building]. Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  48. ^ "Posle blokade Ministarstva državne uprave, studenti blokirali i raskrsnicu kod Vlade; Ministarstvo: Uz Vučića smo" [After blocking the Ministry of State Administration, students also blocked the intersection near the Government; Ministry: We are with Vučić]. Voice of America (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  49. ^ "Protest u Beogradu: Blokirana raskrsnica Nemanjine i Kneza Miloša, policija preusmerava saobraćaj" [Protest in Belgrade: The intersection of Nemanjina and Knez Miloš is blocked, the police are diverting traffic]. Euronews (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  50. ^ "RIK ponovio da nije nadležan za poništavanje izbora u Beogradu" [RIK reiterated that it is not competent to annul the elections in Belgrade]. Radio Free Europe (in Serbian). 20 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  51. ^ "MDULS: Birački spisak ažuran, tvrdnje o "fantomskim biračima" nisu istinite" [MDULS: Voter list up to date, claims about "phantom voters" are not true]. Tanjug (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  52. ^ "Vučić o štrajku glađu opozicije: Ništa neće postići time kao što nije ni Tomislav Nikolić" [Vučić on the opposition's hunger strike: He won't achieve anything with it, just like Tomislav Nikolić didn't]. N1 (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  53. ^ "Dačić o protestu: Puna podrška organima u merama protiv nasilnika i Vučiću u odbrani slobode" [Dačić on the protest: Full support for the authorities in measures against thugs and for Vučić in defending freedom]. N1 (in Serbian). 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  54. ^ a b "Treći protest ispred RIK-a, studenti od ponedeljka najavljuju radikalizaciju i blokade" [The third protest in front of the RIK, students have been announcing radicalisation and blockades since Monday]. Voice of America (in Serbian). 20 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  55. ^ "Dan posle nereda Vučić kod Harčenka, Đilas tvrdi da su navijači upadali u Skupštinu Beograda" [The day after the Vučić riot near Harchenko, Đilas claims that hooligans broke into the Belgrade Assembly]. Voice of America (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  56. ^ Milenković, Mirjana R. (21 December 2023). "Koje stranke opozicije još podržavaju ponavljanje izbora?" [Which opposition parties still support repeating the elections?]. Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  57. ^ "Jovanović: Građani imaju pravo na otpor i mirne proteste" [Jovanović: Citizens have the right to resistance and peaceful protests]. N1 (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  58. ^ Martinović, Iva (25 December 2023). "Ruske službe i opozicioni protesti u Srbiji: Podrška Vučiću i optužbe na račun Zapada" [Russian services and opposition protests in Serbia: Support for Vučić and accusations against the West]. Radio Free Europe (in Serbian). Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  59. ^ Sekularac, Ivana (25 December 2023). "Eight police injured, 38 detained in Serb opposition protest over election". Reuters. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  60. ^ "Peskov: Treće strane i inostranstvo pokušavaju da izazovu nemire u Beogradu" [Peskov: Third parties and foreign countries are trying to cause unrest in Belgrade]. N1 (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  61. ^ "Zaharova: Zapad pokušava da potpali već napetu političku situaciju u Srbiji" [Zakharova: The West is trying to inflame the already tense political situation in Serbia]. N1 (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  62. ^ "Ana Brnabić: Zahvaljujem se ruskim službama bezbednosti" [Ana Brnabić: I would like to thank the Russian security services]. N1 (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  63. ^ "Ruski ambasador Bocan Harčenko: Vučić me informisao da Zapad stoji iza nereda u Beogradu" [Russian Ambassador Bocan Harchenko: Vučić informed me that the West is behind the riots in Belgrade]. Danas (in Serbian). 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.