Vucic again threatens students blocking RTS

“Today is Good Friday — a day of sorrow, mourning, and pain, but also always a day of hope. Unfortunately, even on the holiest Christian holiday, and the most important for Orthodox believers, some people are trying to destroy the state and its foundations through violence. Some people are harassing those who think differently, denying them the right to work, the freedom to move, even the chance to eat. They are preventing them from broadcasting their program. Whatever I may think of that program, this is horrifying, and the messages being sent to people working at RTS are deeply disturbing,” Vucic said.

He continued:

“That is why I am calling on the relevant state authorities to take measures in the coming days to protect constitutional order and legality, in line with the Constitution and law. To reestablish the rule of law, to safeguard public order and peace, so that it is made absolutely clear that Serbia, as a state, is functioning. I also urge them to do this, as much as possible, without applying force. And when force is necessary, to ensure it is minimal — just enough to resolve the situation,” said the Serbian president.

Students have been blocking Serbian state TV (RTS) buildings since Monday, demanding either a new competition for seats on the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM, the country’s media regulator) or the shutdown of public broadcasters.

Democratic Party (DS) leader and opposition MP Srdjan Milivojevic said Thursday that Serbian President Vucic had ordered special police units to forcibly clear student blockades around the RTS buildings in central Belgrade and the Kosutnjak neighborhood during the night from Thursday to Friday. Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic later rebutted this information.