Serbian Education Minister Mladen Sarcevic said on Friday that the government will not interfere in the events at the Belgrade University Rectorate because the university has autonomy.

Sarcevic added that the opposition should not interfere in the student lock-down of the Rectorate. Student activists of the 1 in 5 Million initiative locked themselves into the Rectorate a week ago, demanding that Rector Ivanka Popovic request the dismissal of Finance Minister Sinisa Mali whose doctoral thesis is alleged to have been plagiarized.  

“Anyone doubting someone’s diploma or doctorate should know that the proceedings are underway and should not be interfered with, just like court proceedings,” Sarcevic told the Serbian state TV (RTS).  

The minister said that the Rector’s staff are egotiating with the students who he said were making political demands.