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According to reporters with the AFP news agency, some protesters set off firecrackers and chanted nationalist slogans.
On Friday, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic announced that the country had a record mortality from COVID-19 coronavirus infection, with 18 patients dying daily. In addition, 386 new cases of infection were registered, and the prime minister noted that the increase was “dramatic”.
At the same time, Brnabic condemned the “irresponsible” protests in Belgrade and other cities on Thursday, when violence erupted in the capital over the past two days.
“We will see the results of the protests in three to four days,” he added, and urged people to take steps to stop the spread of the virus.
Speaking on national television, President Alexander Vučičius condemned the protesters’ actions as “pure terrorism” when protesters blocked the main road to the country’s second largest city, Novi Sad, for the second consecutive night.
AFP / Scanpix photo / Protests in Serbia
A.Vučičius added that “we find ourselves in this situation due to the irresponsibility of those who urge people to be on the streets.”
“I ask people not to protest because they will eventually need medical help,” the president said, adding that the protests were illegal.
Protesters expressed disappointment in A.Vučičius, who, according to many, caused the second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic with their decisions.
Critics accuse the government of hastily revoking all initial quarantine measures ahead of the elections in late June.
The right-wing Serbian Progress Party (SNS) at the Vačičius Center won this election, which was boycotted by the main opposition, by a wide margin and consolidated its dominance.
Tuesday’s first demonstration was sparked by a message to A. Vučičius that in the fight against the second wave of coronavirus, which hit hospitals in the capital, the curfew of the weekend is being restored.
The president later withdrew the plan, but the protests continued and became a means of allaying general dissatisfaction with the Vučičius government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
On Thursday, the government officially abandoned the curfew plan and announced restrictions on meetings of more than 10 people. This basically means banning protests. Furthermore, the opening hours of bars, shops and other companies in Belgrade are being shortened.
A new outbreak of infections is being observed as services reauthorize sporting events within minimal social distance.
One of these events was the Adria Tour tennis tournament, organized by Novak Djokovic, the world’s first racket. After this performance, COVID-19 was assigned to him and the other three participants.
For several high-ranking politicians, coronavirus infection was found in the celebrated triumph of the SNS victory in the election.
To date, almost 18,000 have been identified in Serbia. In cases of coronavirus infection, 370 patients died.
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