Riots Erupt at Belgrade Protest Against Alleged Election Fraud
Over 5,000 Serbian opposition supporters took to the streets of Belgrade on a chilly Sunday evening, protesting against alleged fraud in the local elections that took place a week prior. This was the seventh consecutive protest in the city.
The demonstrators marched towards Belgrade City Hall, attempting to breach its walls. Police forces retaliated with tear gas, as reported by local media sources. As a result, close to 30 police officers sustained injuries, and over 30 protesters were arrested.
Opposition Cites Electoral Fraud
The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), led by President Aleksandar Vucic, achieved victories in numerous cities in early parliamentary and local elections. However, in Belgrade, their success was narrowly secured. The opposition claims that this was only achieved through massive electoral fraud. Various reports surfaced of irregularities, such as busloads of voters reportedly being transported from the Serbian section of Bosnia-Herzegovina to the Belgrade arena, where they unlawfully cast their votes.
Vucic Contests Allegations
Vucic firmly denied any allegations of electoral fraud during a public address, while the Serbian Chief Public Prosecutor's Office announced on Saturday evening that the department had received notifications of numerous violations of election regulations.
Additional Insights:
- Critics have accused the SNS of employing a range of tactics to manipulate voter turnout, including distributing financial incentives, intimidation, and prohibiting opposition campaigners from setting up booths.
- Several independent election observers have reported a number of irregularities during the voting process, suggesting an attempt by the ruling party to influence the outcome.
- The protests, despite being largely peaceful, have occasionally escalated into clashes between demonstrators and police forces. Families of the protesters have also reported experiencing intimidation and harassment from authorities, complicating efforts to shut down the protests.
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