Tensions erupted during anti-government protests in Novi Sad, Serbia, after political activist Miodrag Kapor displayed the Albanian national flag, triggering aggressive reactions from the crowd.
As soon as protesters noticed the flag, pushing and verbal abuse broke out. Kapor was forcefully removed from the crowd, amid insults and hostility.
“He brought the Albanian flag here to mock us,” one protester was quoted as saying by the Serbian newspaper Blic.
Following the incident, Kapor stated that he gave a statement to the police. He also revealed that he had been carrying a Croatian flag as well.
“I brought one Albanian flag and one Croatian flag. To be clear, these flags are official symbols recognized by the Community Councils in Serbia. I brought them because students have said these are precisely the flags that may be brought to protests. As we regularly see, the Bosniak flag appears at demonstrations. We brought these two flags to promote tolerance, so that we can all stand together in this struggle,” Kapor said.
Students in Novi Sad continue to protest, demanding justice for the 16 people who lost their lives last year after the collapse of a station canopy at the city’s railway station.
Videos circulating on social media show a physical confrontation, with protesters attempting to tear the Albanian flag away. According to reports, the activist was injured during the incident and taken to the emergency room.
