
The Party of European Socialists (PES) condemned the attack on opposition Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP) leader Dragan Djilas.
In a press release, PES said that “the government in Serbia is trying to create a sense of unease among its citizens and in its society,” and that “the hostile environment created by President Aleksandar Vucic towards the opposition is unacceptable.”
“We are deeply concerned by the assault on an opposition leader in Serbia. Dragan Dilas, the president of the PES observer member party from Serbia, Party of Freedom and Justice (SSP), was attacked by a group of people led by a prominent figure from the ruling party in Belgrade. Djilas was admitted briefly to hospital after the attack. Representatives of the ruling coalition of President Aleksandar Vucic have accused the opposition leader of deliberately provoking the incident,” reads the press release.
PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck emphasized that they condemn the use of violence.
“We condemn the use of violence in all forms as a way to intimidate democratically elected politicians. The government in Serbia is trying to create a sense of unease among its citizens and in its society. The hostile environment created by President Aleksandar Vucic towards the opposition is unacceptable and fundamentally undermines democracy and the rule of law,” the press release quoted him as saying.
“We stand with the Party of Freedom and Justice and Dragan Djilas, reiterating our stance that violence and chaos are pulling Serbia back from its progression in the EU accession process,” said PES.
On Thursday evening, Djilas and SSP member Djordje Aleksic confronted a group of men in the streets of Belgrade who were putting up posters against the SSP leader, leading to a scuffle and an attack in which both opposition figures were injured.
The SSP leader says the group was led by Luka Petrovic, a senior official of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and Belgrade City Investment Secretary who, Djilas adds, was the first to strike him.
On the other hand, Petrovic says that Djilas threw the first punch and insists that the SNS youth are not afraid and that they defended themselves vigorously.