Councilors of the ruling coalition adopted a decision under which the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad is stripped of two premises due to, as stated, improper use. A total of 45 councilors from the ruling majority voted in favor of the decision, while 14 opposition councilors voted against.
During the debate, the opposition warned that this was a “ruthless political retaliation,” as well as “revenge against higher education,” while they described the ban on Dean Zoran Krajišnik’s address as a “ban on opinion.”
Meanwhile, citizens gathered today in front of the Novi Sad Assembly at the invitation of students of the Academy of Arts.
A student plenum of the Academy will be held at 3 p.m. in the gallery premises, where they are expected to decide on further steps.
An incident was also recorded during the session, when ruling coalition councilor Nedeljko Klisurić physically attacked Miran Pogačar, a councilor from the Bravo civic movement.
While the Mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin, was speaking about the Academy of Arts, although it was not on the agenda at that moment, a dispute broke out between Pogačar and Mićin, to which a ruling party councilor reacted physically, and security prevented a more serious physical confrontation.
Before the session began, Mićin told reporters that taking away the premises from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad was not a seizure and assessed that they had been “politically misused.”
“This space has been misused and is currently covered with political slogans. But that is not the reason — the reason is that they are not using the space, and since they misused it,” said Mićin.
He showed slogans he claims are political: “You will no longer intimidate and kill us,” “It’s time for a new time,” “12 months have passed,” “Rebellion creates awareness.”
Kreni-Promeni councilor Stevan Babić told reporters that Mićin and the Serbian Progressive Party are “punishing” students and professors of that higher education institution by taking away the premises.
“They are not interested in what is done in those premises, they are interested in what is thought in those premises, and what is thought is different. Today, under this government, under this system, that is punishable,” said Babić.
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Source: N1, Foto: Printscreen Instagram @blokada.auns