BELGRADE – The “Serbia against violence” protest initiated by certain opposition parties due to two mass murders last week is taking place in Belgrade. The gathering began in front of the National Assembly, and similar protests were organized in other cities in Serbia. A protest walk from the Assembly to the Serbian Government building also began.
The opposition sent several requests to the authorities to stop the promotion of violence in the media and to the public, the resignation of certain ministers and an emergency session of the Assembly to consider the security situation in the country and the responsibility of the Government. A deadline was given until Friday to fulfill the requirements.
In the shooting at the elementary school “Vladislav Ribnikar” last Wednesday in Belgrade, a minor KK killed nine and wounded seven people, while in the shooting in the villages around Mladenovac, in the night between Thursday and Friday, 21-year-old UB killed eight and wounded 14 people. Both attackers were arrested after the massacre. KK committed the mass murder with his father’s gun, while an arsenal of weapons and bombs were found at UB’s.
Because of these two mass murders, the opposition is demanding the removal of the advice of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), the shutdown of print media that violate the journalistic code, the confiscation of national frequencies from Pink and Happy TV that promote violence, and the immediate cancellation of reality shows. They are demanding the resignation of the Minister of Police Bratislava Gašićasee BIA-e Aleksandra Vulina, a prodsvela se i stavka minister prosvete Branko Ružić, who resigned on Sunday.
The protest was instigated by parliamentary groups Ujedinjeni, Zajedno, Narodna stranka, Demokratska stranka, Ne davimo Beograd, while part of the right – Zavetnici and POKS – did not support the rally.
The government accused the opposition of politicizing two tragedies.
In response to two mass murders, the government in Serbia adopted several measures that, as announced by the president, would Aleksandar Vučićshould have contributed“disarmament of Serbia” and reducing weapons in legal possession, as well as illegal weapons.
A two-year moratorium on the issuance of new and revisions of existing weapons licenses is in effect, penalties for illegal possession of weapons have been increased, and those who have unregistered weapons in their possession have been given a month, starting on May 8, to surrender their weapons to the police without consequences .
Police presence in schools has also been increased.
On Monday, classes were resumed in schools in Serbia, with the exception of elementary school “Vladislav Ribnikar”, where the return of students was announced for Wednesday, May 10 – a week after the massacre.
