Borivoje Borović, Vice President of the Belgrade Bar Association (AKB), stated today that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić should first dissolve the paramilitary camp Ćacilend in central Belgrade before urging citizens to calm down and engage in dialogue.
Borović criticized Vučić’s recent appeal for citizens “on all sides” to calm tensions and start discussions, arguing that the President himself is fanning hatred and societal divisions.
“Instead of taking concrete steps to show genuine willingness for dialogue and easing social tensions, Vučić continues to shift blame and incite hatred by targeting students and the protesting public, while protecting criminals and thugs. Dissolving the Ćacilend paramilitary camp would be a first tangible proof that he cares about reducing societal tensions and that physical attacks on MPs and citizens will cease,” Borović said.
He added that the political authorities are primarily responsible for conflicts and tensions among citizens due to their misuse of police forces, noting that the police fail to protect citizens and often side illegally with criminals and violent actors.
Meanwhile, President Vučić called on all citizens to calm down and engage in dialogue, stating that upcoming local elections will determine who earns public trust. Vučić also addressed allegations that members of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) attacked opposition representatives and students during weekend local elections in Negotin, Mionica, and Sečanj. He condemned all forms of violence and claimed that any incidents were caused by outsiders brought in to provoke trouble.
“Let’s calm down and start talking. We will have many local, pre-parliamentary, and presidential elections. Let people decide their own future; do not bring in crowds from Loznica, Požega, Užice, or Belgrade,” Vučić said during a press conference in Belgrade.
He maintained that at none of the polling stations in the three municipalities were there problems, except for incidents allegedly caused by external actors.
