Vucic in Novi Sad after protest: I came because they trampled our flag

Addressing a gathered crowd, Vucic said he had three important messages:

“Everyone responsible, and anyone who is in any way guilty, will be held accountable for what happened in Novi Sad,” he said.

The president then condemned the use of violence, urging his supporters to show restraint. “You will never achieve anything with violence in modern Serbia. Let’s never respond to them in the way they think they can behave. Let us show the difference between them and us.”

Vucic then said he also has a “special message”: “Novi Sad will be governed by Hungarians, Serbs, Rusyns, Slovaks, and all others - but never by those who hate the Serbian people. For those who think they can control Novi Sad the way Belivuk, Miljkovic, and others did, those who think they can intimidate anyone who disagrees with them using drug money - starting tomorrow, we will begin the toughest possible crackdown on all drug dealers. We will cleanse Novi Sad of those who think they can control Serbia in any way,” he said.

The president explained that he also came to Novi Sad because the Serbian flag had been trampled.

“They only attack in packs,” he said, and commended the two men who stood in front of the party offices when the unrest broke out, describing them as “brave.”

The crowd around him responded with chants: “Serbia, Serbia, Serbia!”

“Never again will we allow anyone trample on our Serbian tricolor flag. Those who attacked the police will face the law. We must not speak the language of revenge, we must extend a hand to our neighbors. Prepare yourselves, I don’t know exactly when, but it won’t be long, there will be an opportunity, and we will beat them again,” Vucic emphasized.

The president concluded with a message: “We won’t give up Novi Sad, we won’t give up Serbia.”

N1 TV's reporter was prevented from approaching the president during his address.