Member of Parliament from the Green-Left Front, Radomir Lazović, strongly condemned the counter-protest held outside the site where Dijana Hrka continues her hunger strike, demanding accountability for the death of her son, Stefan, who tragically died on November 1, 2024, after a structure collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station.
Speaking in the Serbian Parliament, Lazović also criticized the “counter hunger strike” initiated by SNS MP Uglješa Mrdić, labeling him a “fraud” and accusing the ruling party of mocking Hrka’s pain for political gain.
“It’s shameful to attack a grieving mother seeking justice for her son’s death,” said Lazović, denouncing the pro-government demonstrators gathered at “Ćacilend” in Pionirski Park, whom he described as “thugs and criminals.”
He cited findings from independent media investigations showing that several individuals present at the pro-government gathering — including Petar Panić, Bojan Vujošević Mrvica, and Dijana Hrkalović — have criminal backgrounds.
“This alone speaks volumes about the nature of those supporting these actions. Who could possibly believe they are doing good while harassing a woman whose son died under state negligence?” Lazović asked.
Ruling Party MPs Respond
In response, Aleksandar Mirković, an MP from the ruling group “Aleksandar Vučić – Serbia Must Not Stop”, accused the opposition of “hypocrisy”, claiming they had ignored Hrka’s struggle for a year and were now “exploiting her tragedy for political purposes.”
Nebojša Bakarec, another SNS MP, launched personal attacks on Lazović, calling him a “perpetual student” and a “cowardly opportunist who eats well in Parliament instead of joining the hunger strike.”
Bakarec went on to praise the Serbian government, citing comments from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Mission Head Andreas von Beckerath, who reportedly commended Serbia’s progress on its electoral register and the conditions for opening EU negotiation Cluster 3.
“The voters’ register doesn’t win elections — the results and policies of President Aleksandar Vučić and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) do,” Bakarec said, adding that the opposition’s frustration stems from nine consecutive SNS victories.
He also claimed that protesters had threatened Uglješa Mrdić, describing him as someone who “only seeks justice.”
Lazović Cites European Parliament Resolution
Lazović responded by noting that 450 members of the European Parliament voted in favor of a resolution on Serbia, which explicitly refers to figures involved in “Ćacilend” as individuals with criminal and questionable pasts.
“I didn’t invent anything — the European Parliament itself confirmed these facts,” Lazović stated.
“That’s why it’s no surprise that no one wanted to meet Vučić at the EU Enlargement Summit in Brussels,” he added.
Speaker Brnabić’s Reaction
Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić dismissed Lazović’s remarks, insisting that the European Parliament is not above Serbia’s National Assembly.
“No one stands above the citizens of Serbia or this parliament — not the European Parliament or any foreign institution,” Brnabić declared.
