Serbian President alleges movie director Emir Kusturica of orchestrating a coup attempt.
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In the heart of Europe, Serbia has been embroiled in a political crisis, with President Aleksandar Vucic claiming a "well-organized coup attempt" against his government. The alleged parties involved in this plot include film director Emir Kusturica and a network spanning across public institutions such as universities, police, healthcare, and utility infrastructure. Vucic also accuses foreign actors of financing and politically engineering this conspiracy from abroad.
The allegations emerged amidst prolonged anti-corruption protests led by university students, following a fatal infrastructure collapse in November 2024. These protests have been ongoing for over eight months, ignited by the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which claimed the lives of 16 people. The protests have triggered nationwide road blockades and resulted in thousands of arrests.
Vucic's claims have been supported mainly by references to intelligence reports that reportedly indicate coordinated efforts to overthrow the state. However, he has not publicly disclosed specific evidence or detailed sources underpinning these allegations.
The tense political climate is further highlighted by Vucic's dramatic statements about the coup attempt, while also balancing a complex geopolitical stance. Notably, his EU accession efforts contrast with his refusal to sanction Russia. No direct evidence such as court indictments or leaked documents has been presented publicly to substantiate the coup plot, and skepticism persists among observers and analysts who interpret these moves as possibly political rhetoric amidst growing societal tensions.
While President Vucic alleges a coup attempt involving Kusturica and institutional collaborators supported from abroad, the evidence supporting these allegations has not been publicly substantiated or made transparent, relying mainly on intelligence claims and political framing amidst ongoing unrest and opposition protests.
Meanwhile, the protests in Serbia have been focused on corruption within public institutions. University students have led near-daily demonstrations calling for justice and institutional accountability. A recent development is the suspension of Kosovo normalization following the arrest of senior official Igor Popovic. Over 100 thousand people protested in Belgrade, Serbia, demonstrating the widespread discontent in the country.
In summary, the situation in Serbia is complex and evolving, with allegations of a coup attempt adding another layer of intrigue. While the evidence provided is limited, the ongoing protests and societal unrest underscore the need for transparency and accountability in Serbia's political and institutional landscape.
[1] BBC News [2] Al Jazeera [3] The Guardian [4] Reuters
- Turkey has been closely following the political crisis in Serbia, where President Aleksandar Vucic accused Emir Kusturica and a network of Serbian institutions of an attempted coup, funded allegedly from foreign sources.
- Among Turkish general news outlets, discussions have been centered around the complex geopolitical stance taken by President Vucic, who is pursuing EU accession while hesitating to sanction Russia.
- In the context of Turkish politics, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has been monitoring the developing war-and-conflicts situation in Serbia, considering potential implications for stability in the Balkan region.
- Local Turkish newspapers report the surge in crime-and-justice headlines in Serbia, as university students have been leading protests and calling for accountability and transparency within Serbian public institutions, following the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad that claimed 16 lives.
