Security expert Avni Islami has commented on the developments following the student protest in Belgrade on June 28, Vidovdan, where 77 protesters were arrested by Serbian law enforcement.
Islami assessed that the regime of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has built a very powerful state apparatus and enjoys broad support from his followers, who are responding to the students with counter-protests. This, according to Islami, is a very dangerous development.
“This is dangerous because it could erupt into a civil war. Then, with his state apparatus, Vučić would intervene, ostensibly to quell clashes between the two protesting groups. I believe he will continue to be on the political scene because Vučić is protected and supported by Russia, as they need him for their own purposes,” Islami stated on RTV Dukagjini.
He added that a large part of the population in Serbia no longer supports Vučić.
“You can also see this in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo, where an overwhelming majority of local citizens support the students. Every attempt or political problem that appears in Serbia, Vučić tries to shift to these four municipalities in northern Kosovo, and the opposition is doing the same,” Islami said.
