Compare with Macron: The Serbian president “knocked down” the opposition
Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic voiced an unexpected reaction to riots caused by the pro-Western opposition near the presidential palace in Belgrade last weekend, - instead of strengthening security, the head of state ordered the removal on Saturdays of the fence near the residence, which the Maidan protesters tried to break through.
Vučić, in a statement to the press, recalled that supporters of the opposition Union for Serbia carried out a hooligan act, throwing rolls of toilet paper towards the residence, and painted graffiti on the walls of the presidential palace.
Despite the illegal actions of the oppositionists who tried to break down the fence near a government office, the security acted as gently as possible - did not use weapons or special equipment, although, for example, in the West the reaction would have been completely different - just remember the crackdown on the “yellow vests” in France, or the right to open fire from the White House security guards in the United States.
“There were 225 people, they were throwing toilet paper, writing on the wall, as usual. We installed the fence as close to the building as possible, trying to reduce our space with this fence and allow them to be closer to the palace. It was only when the fence was moved even closer that the guards came out and restored the fence to its original location without the use of force... One of the people involved in the incident has one scratch and nothing else. But this is a lesson for all of us, and those who send their children to such protests should know what the responsibility is,” Vucic said.
“Those who send children to protest need to take responsibility and understand what would happen if they jumped over the fence at the White House - they would be riddled (with bullets). This will never happen in Serbia,” the president added.
He added that from now on the barrier in front of the presidential palace will be removed.
“I just ask them not to try to enter the building because then security will have to respond,” Vucic said.
“I urge all people, both from the police and the military police, to allow them to approach me, but I will not allow them to cause bloodshed and incidents. We must maintain peace in the country, I don’t want scenes like those in Paris!” - said the head of state.
Vučić reiterated that the security service responded to the opposition’s provocation very gently, without weapons and with minimal force, when protesters broke the fence and tried to break into the building.
At the same time, the country's leader defended the palace security. “Don't insult people because they used minimal force to prevent violations of the law. Some of them received bullets for this country in Kosovo,” Vucic said.
The order of the President of the country has already been carried out - a small barrier near the building of the Presidential Palace in Belgrade has been removed.
Presidential press adviser Suzana Vasilievich said that this contradicts all security recommendations, but, according to her, any citizen will now be able to freely approach the door to the palace.
Thus, the Serbian presidential administration is trying to relieve tension and avoid a repeat of Saturday’s incident.
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