(12 May 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Belgrade, Serbia - 12 May 2023
1. Various of protesters gathering in central Belgrade
2. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Nevena Matic, resident of Belgrade:
“We’re here to express a certain kind of rebellion against everything that currently surrounds us, but primarily the violence that occurred in the last few days, and that is all around us in the past years.”
3. Various of protesters carrying banner reading (Serbian): “Serbia against violence”
4. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Stefan Cvetkovic, resident of Belgrade:
“This problem cannot be solved because the system has crumpled. What these protests have definitely shown us is that only through public action and, unfortunately, through presence outside of the institutions of state, we can get a reaction out.”
5. Various of tens of thousands of protesters on the streets
6. Protesters carrying banner that reading (Serbian) “Serbia against violence.”
7. Protesters marching
8. Protesters carrying Serbian flags marching
9. Various of protesters walking through motorway exit
10. Various of protesters walking on motorway in Belgrade

STORYLINE:
Tens of thousands of people marched through Serbia's capital of Belgrade and then blocked a key bridge and a highway passing through the capital on Friday.

They were protesting against last week's mass shootings in the Balkan country that left 17 people dead, including many children.

The crowd gathered in front of the parliament building before walking past the government headquarters until they reached the bridge.

At the head of the huge column of people was a black banner reading “Serbia Against Violence.”

As the largely silent crowds went by the government buildings, many in the crowd chanted slogans against Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic whom they blame for creating an atmosphere of hopelessness and division in the county that indirectly led to the mass shootings last week.

As the protesters reached the bridge over the Sava River, drivers were forced to turn around to avoid becoming stuck.

Pro-government media criticized the blockade - the Novosti daily reported that “harassment has begun, hooligans have blocked the bridge."

Police were present, but did not intervene.

“We’re here to express a certain kind of rebellion against everything that currently surrounds us, but primarily the violence that occurred in the last few days, and that is all around us in the past years,” Nevena Matic, a resident of Belgrade said.

Stefan Cvetkovic, another local, said the system was broken. "What these protests have definitely shown us is that only through public action and, unfortunately, through presence outside of the institutions of state, we can get a reaction out.”

The rally on Friday comes a week after thousands marched in Belgrade.

They were demanding the resignations of government ministers and the withdrawal of broadcast licenses for two private TV stations which are close to the state and promote violence. They often host convicted war criminals and crime figures on their programs.

Protests with the same demands have been held in the past week in various cities and towns in Serbia.

The two shootings happened in just two days, leaving 17 people dead and 21 wounded. A 13-year-old boy last Wednesday used his father's gun to open fire at his school in central Belgrade, while a day later a 20-year-old randomly fired at people in a rural area south of Belgrade.

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