Protest in Novi Sad over assault on students

Milan Stankovic, a student from the Novi Sad Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, explained for N1 that he and three of his fellow students were attacked by a group of ten after they stepped out of a club in the city center and paused to put on their jackets.

He said they tried to de-escalate the situation. “We immediately raised our hands and said we didn’t want any trouble. They pulled a belt on us,” Stankovic said, explaining that the attackers slapped them, hit them with belts, and punched them in the head. He said they were warned at the club “to be on standby in case the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) thugs showed up.” He also noted that the police arrived shortly after but “didn’t take any action.”

“This attack is not a coincidence - this is organized violence against young people who freely express their opinions. This is an attack on all of us. We must not stay silent!” the students of Novi Sad declared.

Responding to a call from student protesters, their peers and Novi Sad residents gathered at the university campus on Friday evening, following which they marched through the city streets to the place where the students were attacked. Leading the column of protesters were two tractors, while bikers had arrived earlier to ensure that the protesters could safely reach their destination.

“The aim of the protest is to block the area and street where our fellow students were attacked,” said one of the students, emphasizing that they were holding a peaceful protest.

“The plan is to stay here until 3 am, when clubs usually close; the main event is happening here - on the street,” another student said.

As the protesters passed the local headquarters of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), they hurled eggs at the party’s storefront and threw red paint on it, while messages were spray-painted on the glass.

“You’re going to pay,” “AV murderer,” (AV – Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian President) “You’re done,” “Punishment by law,” and “Prison” were just some of the messages written in red spray paint on local SNS offices.

The Serbian Internal Affairs Ministry said Friday that it is taking all measures and actions within its authority to investigate the incident and prosecute the suspects.

The Clinical Center of Vojvodina (KCV) said on Friday evening that one of the three patients received the previous night at the Emergency Center is still hospitalized with serious injuries but is in stable condition. The KCV added that “the other two patients, who sustained minor injuries, have been discharged for further treatment at home."

Protests in support of the assaulted Novi Sad students were also held Friday evening in Belgrade and Kragujevac.