Latest news with #AnaBrnabic
Russia Today
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Protesters in Belgrade calling for civil war
Speaker of the Serbian Parliament Ana Brnabic has accused anti-government protesters in Belgrade of calling for a civil war, after a student-led rally escalated into clashes with police. The latest unrest erupted on Saturday, after the authorities rejected an ultimatum from demonstrators demanding the dissolution of parliament and early elections. The protest coincided with Vidovdan, a national holiday marking Serbia's 1389 battle against the Ottoman Empire at Kosovo Field. In a post on X, Brnabic – who served as prime minister from 2017 to 2024 – shared a video from the protest's closing moments, in which an organizer tells the crowd to 'take freedom into your own hands.' 'They didn't end their gathering by shouting 'Long live Serbia.' They ended it with a chilling call to murder Serbia – a monstrous and open call for civil war,' Brnabic wrote. In a separate post, she accused neighboring Croatia of backing the unrest in an effort to unseat President Aleksandar Vucic. A wave of protests has gripped Serbia since the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad last November, which killed 16 people and triggered widespread public outrage and calls for accountability. Saturday's demonstration began peacefully but turned violent in the evening when some protesters began throwing eggs, bottles, and other objects at police near a downtown park where government supporters were holding a vigil. Officers responded with pepper spray and riot shields to disperse the crowd. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said six officers and two civilians were injured, and dozens of 'hooligans' were arrested. Speaking earlier at a Vidovdan ceremony, Vucic – who has repeatedly claimed that the protests are being instigated by foreign actors – called for national unity and urged restraint. 'Serbia always wins in the end,' he wrote on social media.
Bloomberg
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Brawl in Smoke-Filled Parliament Adds to Serbian Tensions
Welcome to the weekend issue of Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. Join us on Saturdays for deeper dives from our bureaus across Europe. BELGRADE — 'You're a terrorist gang!'' yelled Serbian parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic, dripping with water from plastic bottles hurled at her, as orange and grey smoke filled the neoclassical hall in the center of the capital.
Russia Today
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
WATCH protesters attack Belgrade city hall
Violent clashes broke out between opposition protesters and law enforcement outside the city hall in the Serbian capital Belgrade on Thursday, as demonstrators attempted to disrupt a session of the city legislature, local media have reported. Footage from the Ruptly video agency showed several dozen protesters blocking traffic outside the building, which is home to the City Assembly of Belgrade, before trying to breach metal barriers set up by police. Officers in riot gear pushed back the crowd as demonstrators threw eggs and bags of red paint at the building and pepper-sprayed police. Reports also claimed that at least one journalist was attacked while trying to enter the building during the scuffle. Eight police officers sustained injuries requiring medical attention, while five protesters were detained, according to reports citing authorities. Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic condemned the incident, calling it an 'act of terrorism' by the opposition. She stressed, however, that the assembly successfully passed scheduled motions, including budget revisions for the city's public utility companies and urban planning regulations. Thursday's clashes came two days after opposition MPs disrupted a session inside Serbia's National Assembly, setting off smoke grenades and tear gas to protest against the government. Some lawmakers rushed the speaker's chair, leading to a scuffle with security guards. Two female MPs were injured, with one reportedly suffering a stroke. This week's protests follow months of student-led demonstrations against alleged corruption and government negligence in Serbia. The protests were initially triggered by the deadly collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station last November, which claimed 15 lives. The situation has led to public outrage throughout the country, and prompted the resignation of several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Milos Vucevic. Protesters have since been calling for systemic government reforms, while the opposition has questioned the government's legitimacy in passing legislation following the prime minister's resignation. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic earlier accused foreign actors of fueling the unrest to destabilize the country. Last month, Vucic claimed that opposition forces were collaborating with Western, Croatian, and Albanian intelligence agencies to incite a 'color revolution' in Serbia, but vowed that his government would not back down.
South China Morning Post
05-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Chaotic scenes in Serbia's parliament as smoke bombs and flares thrown, lawmakers injured
Serbian opposition lawmakers lit flares and set off suspected tear gas grenades in parliament on Tuesday in support of ongoing anti-corruption protests, with several lawmakers injured during the melee. Advertisement Footage shared online showed opposition members holding colourful flares and throwing what seemed to be smoke canisters with some appearing to engage in scuffles as the opening spring session began. A live video feed showed parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabic lambasting the opposition's protest and the alleged use of 'tear gas' in the assembly. 'Your colour revolution has failed, and this country will live, this country will work and this country will continue to win,' she told them, referring to pro-Western revolts that shook post-Soviet states in recent decades. Journalists watch live a broadcast of the chaos. Photo: Reuters Serbia has been rocked for months by student-led anti-corruption protests after the deadly collapse of a railway station roof last year that killed 15 people.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Chaos as Serbia opposition set off flares in parliament to back protests
Serbian opposition lawmakers lit flares and set off suspected tear gas grenades in parliament on Tuesday in support of ongoing anti-corruption protests, with multiple lawmakers injured during the melee. Footage shared online showed opposition members holding colourful flares and throwing what appeared to be smoke canisters as the opening spring session began. A live video feed showed parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabic lambasting the opposition's protest and the alleged use of "tear gas" in the assembly. "Your colour revolution has failed, and this country will live, this country will work and this country will continue to win," she told them, referring to pro-western revolts that shook post-Soviet states. Serbia has been rocked for months by student-led anti-corruption protests after the deadly collapse of a train station roof last year that killed 15 people. The movement has put increasing pressure on the Serbian government and President Aleksandar Vucic, spurring the resignation of the prime minister in January and other high-ranking officials. Tuesday's session was the first since Prime Minister Milos Vucevic stepped down and MP were set to formalise his resignation. They were also to debate a new higher education bill that would slash tuition fees for university students -- a key demand of the protesters. But amid chaotic scenes, opposition members launched their protest and threw eggs and water at members of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party. "Do you defend students' demands like this?" said speaker Brnabic during the session. Opposition lawmakers also waved Serbian flags and held signs saying "Your hands are bloody" and "Fulfil the students' demands!" - Investigation - The speaker later said that multiple MPs were injured during the incident. Serbia's Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar said that one lawmaker was taken to an intensive care unit after suffering a stroke. Hours after the melee another fracas erupted in the parliamentary chamber when a fire extinguisher was discharged. Belgrade's public prosecutor's office said it had ordered police "to establish the relevant facts and gather all available evidence to identify the individuals who brought and used pyrotechnic devices" and find out who else threw objects during the session. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic later added that legislators who engaged in violence would not be protected by legal immunity. "Anyone who participated in the incident ... will be held accountable for their actions in line with the law. We will never tolerate violence," said the minister. - Months of protests - The fatal collapse of a railway station roof in the city of Novi Sad in November came after extensive renovations to the building. It ignited long-simmering anger in the country over corruption and the alleged lack of oversight for construction and development projects. Vucic and other government officials have swung between calling for talks and firing off allegations that the demonstrators are being backed by foreign powers. To quell the protests, the government has sought to meet several of the student organisers' demands. Those steps have included releasing a raft of documents related to the renovations at the station; pardoning protesters arrested at rallies; boosting funding for higher education and launching criminal proceedings against suspects accused of attacking demonstrators. Outside parliament, student protesters also rallied as the session opened, where they held 15 minutes of silence in tribute to the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. University students have emerged as the leaders of the protest movement and have been blockading campuses across the country for weeks. But the student protesters have refrained from making a formal alliance with Serbia's fractured political opposition. The chaotic scenes in parliament come after thousands of demonstrators flocked to the southern city of Nis over the weekend, during the latest in a series of mass demonstrations. Protesters have called for another large rally to be held in the capital Belgrade on March 15. mp-ds/fg
