Veroljub Naumović, a student from Kula, told N1 that he and several of his peers were attacked by members of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), who, according to Naumović, were carrying cold weapons and “badges,” creating a frightening situation for those involved.
The initiative “Mladi Kula,” whose members appeared on the Glas mladih (Youth Voice) list in the recent local elections, stated that their activists were assaulted by SNS members while securing billboards and banners for the ruling party.
Naumović provided a detailed chronological account of the events, describing how the students were followed and ultimately trapped in a rural area.
“We were driving at night after a social gathering in Kula. While checking polling stations in preparation for Sunday’s elections, we noticed a car moving suspiciously, seemingly following us. I tried turning into side streets to see if they were really following us, but the same car kept reappearing. We became concerned for our safety, and I accelerated to try to get away. Yet, they continued to follow us,” Naumović explained.
He added that at one point, the group found themselves on a dirt road in the countryside. “We ended up trapped in a rural area. We assumed the people following us were thugs protecting SNS signs and billboards. They had parked vehicles and stood with cold weapons and sticks. A shot was fired at some point. Some masked individuals jumped over fences, surrounded us, and shone lights directly into our car. It was terrifying,” he recalled.
Naumović also described moments of panic during the incident: “At one point, I drove down a slope, and gunshots were fired. Someone shouted ‘stop,’ and we heard more shots. We weren’t sure if they were aimed at us or at the locals who had come to help. We feared for our lives.”
According to the student, the police eventually arrived and questioned everyone present as part of a standard informational procedure. “From what I heard, some of the people on the other side refused to provide statements or identification. They even threatened locals with their badges, but the residents didn’t believe them and removed the badges. Fortunately, no one was injured,” Naumović concluded.
The incident has sparked concern over the safety of election monitoring and political activism in Kula, highlighting the tense atmosphere ahead of local elections. Authorities have yet to confirm the identities of those involved or any legal action that may follow.
