Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated that the police in Niš “performed very poorly” last night, failing to respond appropriately when a group of citizens threw eggs and stones at members and officials of the Serbian Progressive Party.

During his visit to Bojnik today, as part of a tour of the Toplica and Jablanica districts, he remarked that police in “Bogatić and many other areas” also did not respond adequately.

He expressed that he “didn’t sleep” after the events in Niš and believes he bears responsibility for the police’s inadequate response to the many protests occurring across Serbia in recent months.

“(I am) guilty because I sought national unity and the respect of differing opinions… Yet last night, in Niš, women were chased with oysters and eggs. I am thankful that the mayor (Dragoslav Pavlović) stood firm against their aggression, perpetrated by those who do not recognize Kosovo and Metohija as part of Serbia, who view the Republika Srpska as a genocidal entity, and who wish harm upon Serbia. State bodies must respond more decisively in protecting citizens in the future. We either demand a stronger reaction from all state entities, or we will identify the ones that refuse to uphold the law; we cannot allow violence to prevail,” Vučić stated.

He further expressed his surprise at how “foreigners have managed to damage the country using their illicit finances,” asserting that every student protest has been executed “in a criminal manner” due to the lack of proper event registration, leading to “violent actions” recorded throughout Serbia.

The incident in Niš that Vučić referred to took place last night following a several-hour protest by students and citizens, after student guards had vacated the park in front of the Officers’ House and the adjacent streets.

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