MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS ON PROTEST IN FRONT OF RTS: Two People Arrested, Authorities Claim No Force Was Used Against Protesters!

Members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Belgrade brought in and detained D. R. (20) and N. O. (33), who are suspected of disturbing public order and peace while leaving the gathering on Takovska Street and passing by Pionirski Park.

It is suspected that they were banging on trash cans and insulting participants of the gathering in Pionirski Park, and then attempted to climb over a fence to engage in a conflict with them.

Police found a brass knuckle in the possession of N. O., which was confiscated.

Breathalyzer tests showed that N. O. had a blood alcohol level of 0.66, while D. R. had 0.67.

Misdemeanor charges will be filed against D. R. and N. O. under the Law on Public Order and Peace, and against N. O. also under the Law on Weapons and Ammunition.

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Intervention in Front of RTS

Around 5 a.m. this morning on Takovska Street, in front of the RTS building, while the police were safely escorting RTS employees to work, gathered citizens—who have been blocking the RTS building for several days—surrounded and blocked Ministry of Internal Affairs official vehicles in an attempt to prevent officers from driving them out, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stated.

“Despite multiple warnings and orders from the police to allow the passage of official vehicles, the gathered individuals refused to comply. The police did not use force at any moment but instead attempted to reach an agreement through conversation with the crowd to move aside so that the vehicles could exit. As the crowd still did not clear the way, the police, without using coercive means and after issuing prior warnings and orders, carried out so-called crowd displacement to both sides to allow the vehicles to pass,” the statement said.

They added that participants in the gathering offered strong resistance, insulted police officers, and that one police officer sustained an ankle injury during the incident, after which he was transported to a medical facility by emergency services.

“After that, following new warnings, the protesters moved, and the police left the scene with their vehicles,” the statement reads.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs also stated that work is underway to determine the circumstances of this event and to inform the competent authorities to assess possible responsibility of the participants during the blockade of the police.

The Ministry emphasized that the police are solely protecting public order and peace, citizens, and institutions, and warned that they will continue to apply measures and powers in accordance with the law, once again “calling on all citizens to refrain from any behavior that endangers other citizens or obstructs the work of competent authorities and institutions, and instead to respect the law.”