Citizens gathered outside the Bogatic municipal administration building attempted to enter the building on Friday morning, but were met with police resistance.

The situation escalated after the doors at a side entrance to the building were damaged. Strong police forces were present, using shields to block and prevent citizens from entering.

Local residents then moved to the front of the building, throwing eggs, stones, and dirt, resulting in several windows being broken. Inside, police were stationed with shields, preventing anyone from entering, while people continued to gather outside.

Just before 11 am, opposition council members came out of the building to inform the crowd that an illegal and illegitimate municipal council meeting had taken place. They called on the relevant state institutions to investigate the corrupt activities of the Bogatic municipal leadership. The citizens responded with applause.

The meeting had been moved from the large assembly hall to a much smaller office. As opposition council members previously said, “they were relocated to some sort of pantry.” Opposition members from the citizen group Victory for Macva found them, entered the office, and disrupted the meeting with noise, declaring that they would continue their fight and would not back down from their demands for the resignation of the municipal leadership.

The Bogatic municipality located in the Macva District of western Serbia.