Aleksandar Vučić, the leader of the electoral list backed by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), said Monday that October 5, 2000, marked the day when, in his view, Serbia received a “verdict from the West” concerning Kosovo and Montenegro.
Speaking at an election rally in Banoštor near Beočin, Vučić referred to the mass protests that brought down Slobodan Milošević’s government in 2000.
“October 5 was the day when the verdict against Serbia from the West was handed down on the issue of Kosovo and Metohija and on Montenegro’s departure,” Vučić said.
He also referred to former Serbian Foreign Minister Goran Svilanović, claiming that those who traveled to Budapest to receive financial support had to agree to accept Montenegro’s independence, which Vučić described as a precondition for what he characterized as a subsequent attempt to separate Kosovo.
October 5, 2000, saw some of the largest demonstrations in Serbia’s recent history after Milošević refused to recognize the results of the September 24 presidential election, which he lost to Vojislav Koštunica, the candidate of the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS).
Tens of thousands of demonstrators arrived in Belgrade from across Serbia in cars, buses and trucks. Protesters broke through police blockades in several locations, while clashes escalated around the Federal Assembly building.
Police used tear gas in an attempt to prevent protesters from entering the Assembly, but the effort failed. The Federal Assembly building and the headquarters of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) were subsequently damaged.
Police resistance largely ended later in the day, with many officers joining the demonstrators.
That evening, Koštunica, who had been elected president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, addressed supporters from the balcony of Belgrade City Hall. On October 6, Milošević acknowledged his electoral defeat and congratulated Koštunica.
