Serbia's diaspora protests against situation in homeland in 13 world cities

"The crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic is just a consequence of what has been happening in Serbia for years: the destruction of the institutions, the health system and creation of unfavourable economic situation which forces people to leave Serbia," Karapandza who lived in Paris for five years and graduated for the law faculty, said."

The protests were held in Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Boston, Zurich, Hamburg, Helsinki, London, New York, Oslo, Paris, Prague and Vancouver," he added, saying that the participants included students in those countries, those who moved in recently and those who lived there for years.

Karapandza said the reason for protests "initially was false data about infected and dead people from coronavirus in Serbia. But that was just a trigger since there is a lot of problems."

He added that though the demonstrators lived abroad, they all had relatives and friends in Serbia and wanted to show solidarity with them.

"Serbia doesn't have the functional institutions anymore, and every constructive criticism is seen as an attack on the state," Karapandza said.

He added he was in Paris for a protest during the visit of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and that he was surprised with a comment by Vucic's media advisor Suzana Vasiljevic who tweeted "kids, you will wait for a while" adding "Vucic is listening to Claude Debussy's composition with his host (French President Emmanuel) Macron."

"It's sad that President Vucic did not come out to talk to us. There is no reason to declare us enemies, and address us in an inappropriate tone," Karapandza said.