Police fired tear gas at protesters in Serbia’s capital today during the second day of demonstrations against the against the president’s handling of the country’s coronavirus outbreak.
President Aleksandar Vucic backtracked on his plans to reinstate a coronavirus lockdown in Belgrade this week, but it didn’t stop people from firing flares and throwing stones while trying to storm the downtown parliament building.
Several people were injured in the clashes in front of the parliament on Wednesday, including some of the opposition leaders.
The clashes happened a day after protesters fought running battles with police in the capital and tried to enter the country’s parliament after Vucic announced that a weekend curfew would be reintroduced two months after it was first lifted.
Opponents blame the Serbian leader for contributing to the spike in deaths and new cases after he lifted the previous lockdown measures.
They say he did that to cement his grip on power after parliamentary elections held on June 21. He has denied those claims.
Today, Mr Vucic backtracked on his new lockdown plans that were to take effect during the coming weekend, claiming the measure cannot be implemented without proclaiming a nationwide state of emergency.
Mr Vucic said that although he still supports the lockdown, ‘most probably, there will be no curfew’.
Riot police armed with batons and riot shields battle protestors charging Serbia’s National Assembly building today
Actor and leader of PSG movement Sergej Trifunovic receives help after being attacked by right wing protesters during an anti-government rally, amid the spread of the coronavirus disease in front of the parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, today
Police officers stand guard as demonstrators gather during the anti-government rally today
Protesters throw projectiles at riot police outside Serbia’s National Assembly in Belgrade today
Serbian riot police clashes with protesters lighting flares and starting fires in Belgrade today
Aa demonstrator runs through the smoke left by flares outside the parliament building in Belgrade today
Riot police battle flames caused by flares let off by protestors on the streets of Belgrade today
Police line up with riot shields as fires burn out behind them today as protestors descend on the city
A protestor pulls down a barrier on the steps of the National Assembly building as riot police line up to defend the building
President Aleksandar Vucic has backtracked on plans to reinstate a coronavirus lockdown in Belgrade after thousands protested and violently clashed with police in the capital last night
Serbian opposition leaders attend the anti-government rally earlier today before the violence erupted
A women waves with Serbian nation flag as people gather for the demonstration this morning
Demonstrators march through the streets of Belgrade wearing face masks during the anti-government rally today
Riot police line up in in front of protestors before the march turned violent today
Thousands of Serbians demonstrate outside parliament after the reintroduction of the coronavirus lockdown yesterday
Demonstrators gather in front of the Serbian parliament building during a protest against a lockdown planned for Belgrade from this weekend
Demonstrators light a flare as they gather during a protest at the Serbian parliament building against a lockdown planned for the capital this weekend to halt the spread of the coronavirus
Police officers use pepper spray on demonstrators in front of the Serbian parliament in Belgrade, Serbia on Tuesday
Thousands of protesters angry at the return of a weekend coronavirus curfew gather in front of the National Assembly building in Belgrade
This graph shows how coronavirus cases have increased in Serbia in recent days, almost reaching the levels seen in April
The death toll remains low compared to many European countries but has also spiked in recent days
The government will reimpose a curfew as of Friday evening and it is expected to last until Monday morning. The decision has prompted fury
Protesters scuffle with police in front of the National Assembly building in Belgrade, on July 7, as Serbian police fired tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators angry at the return of a weekend coronavirus curfew
Serbian police officers disperse protesters in front of Serbian parliament building in Belgrade. The country’s Health Ministry said Tuesday that 13 people had died in 24 hours in Serbia and 299 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed
Some of the protesters briefly managed to enter the parliament by force, but were pushed back by riot police. The protesters responded by hurling flares, stones, bottles and eggs at the police
Protesters clash with security forces during a protest against restrictions imposed to stem spread of coronavirus in Belgrade
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic denounced the protest, saying the state will protect law and order and accused opposition politicians of being behind the storming of parliament
A demonstrator gestures in front of security forces during a protest against a lockdown planned for Belgrade from this weekend
An injured demonstrator receives aid as he lies on the stairs of the Serbian parliament building, during a protest against a lockdown
Serbia went from having one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns to a near-complete reopening at the beginning of May. Football and tennis matches were played in packed stands and a parliamentary election was held on June 21
The Serbian president angrily rejected widespread criticism that his insisting on holding an election led to the lifting of the earlier lockdown and the recent coronavirus case spike
Protesters run from tear gas in front of Serbian parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia on Tuesday evening as police try to disperse thousands
He said that the government will decide on new measures that could include shortened hours for night clubs and penalties for those not wearing masks.
He said foreign secret services were behind the Tuesday night protests by ‘right-wing and pro fascist demonstrators’.
He did not identify the alleged spy agencies and strongly defended the police action against accusations of brutality.
‘We will never allow the destabilisation of Serbia from within and abroad,’ Mr Vucic said, adding that the protest had ‘nothing to do with the coronavirus’.
Police fired several rounds of tear gas at the protesters, some chanting ‘Resignation! Resignation!’ as they gathered in front of the downtown parliament building in the Serbian capital.
Some of the protesters briefly managed to enter the parliament by force, but were pushed back by riot police.
The protesters responded by hurling flares, stones, bottles and eggs at the police. Several clashes erupted between some of the most extremist rioters apparently belonging to far-right groups and the baton-wielding police.
Protesters also clashed with police in front of the state TV building. The broadcaster is accused by the opposition of having a pro-government bias. A number of police vehicles were set on fire.
Serbia went from having one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns to a near-complete reopening at the beginning of May
Many blame the autocratic Serbian president for lifting the previous lockdown measures just so he would cement his grip on power after parliamentary elections
President Aleksandar Vucic called the virus situation in Belgrade ‘alarming’ and ‘critical’ as the city’s hospitals neared their capacity limits
Thousands of people protested the Serbian president’s announcement that a lockdown will be reintroduced after the Balkan country reported its highest single-day death toll from the coronavirus
Serbian police said 23 people were detained in the clashes that lasted for more than six hours.
Police chief Vladimir Rebic told state-run RTS television that authorities are working to identify more people who took part in the rioting that left 43 police officers and 17 demonstrators injured.
Mr Rebic said police showed ‘maximum restraint’ and reacted only when it was absolutely necessary.
The country’s Health Ministry said Tuesday that 13 people had died in 24 hours in Serbia and 299 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed.
That brought the total to 16,719 confirmed cases and 330 virus-related deaths since the start of the pandemic in Serbia, which went from having one of Europe´s strictest lockdowns to a near-complete reopening at the beginning of May.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a press conference in Belgrade defending his actions over the virus
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic denounced the protest and insisted that the state will protect law and order
Protesters gather in front of the Serbian parliament in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Thousands of people protested the Serbian president’s announcement that a lockdown will be reintroduced after the Balkan country reported its highest single-day death toll from the coronavirus Tuesday. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Serbian police officers guard the parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday as thousands of protesters descend on it
Earlier, President Aleksandar Vucic called the virus situation in Belgrade ‘alarming’ and ‘critical’ as the city’s hospitals neared their capacity limits after health officials reported highest single-day death toll from the coronavirus on Tuesday.
Some rights groups in Belgrade denounced what they described as police brutality. The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights urged citizens to come forward and offered legal aid.
Serbia went from having one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns to a near-complete reopening at the beginning of May.
Football and tennis matches were played in packed stands and a parliamentary election was held on June 21 despite warnings from experts that the mass gatherings without social distancing could lead to a new coronavirus wave.
Serbian police officers clash with protesters in front of the Serbian parliament in Belgrade, Serbia on Tuesday evening
Thousands of people protested the Serbian president’s announcement that a lockdown will be reintroduced after the Balkan country reported its highest single-day death toll from the coronavirus
Protesters run from tear gas in front of Serbian parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia on Tuesday after clashes with police
Serbian police officers guard Serbian parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, July 7, 2020. Thousands of people protested the Serbian president’s announcement that a lockdown will be reintroduced
‘We have probably relaxed too much. Everyone thought it was all over,’ Mr Vucic said, angrily rejecting widespread criticism that his insisting on holding the election led to the lifting of the earlier lockdown and the recent coronavirus case spike.
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic denounced the protest, saying the state will protect law and order and accused opposition politicians of being behind the storming of parliament.
‘I strongly condemn the vandalism of politicians who are behind the violent break into the Serbian Parliament at the moment when the state and the health system face the toughest blow from the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic,’ Brnabic said.
On Tuesday, Montenegro introduced a compulsory quarantine for all people arriving from neighbouring Serbia, citing coronaviorus health risks.
Greece also banned Serb tourists from entering the country on Monday.