A sports event in Zaječar, attended by children and numerous guests on September 20, concerned parents after SNS President Miloš Vučevićused footage from the event to make a pre-election campaign video in which children also appear. Parents claim they signed consent forms after being told that the photographs and recordings would be used to promote sports, while the Sports Association, the City of Zaječar and SNS did not respond to questions about whether the parents had been informed in advance about Vučević’s presence and the actual purpose of the recordings and photographs, which, according to the article, were used for political purposes.
A sports event organized by the Sports Association of the City of Zaječar, aimed at promoting physical activity and healthy habits, brought together numerous children, parents and citizens at Popova Beach in Zaječar on Sunday, September 20.
However, to the surprise of many, among the guests was also SNS President and adviser to the President of Serbia for regional affairs, Miloš Vučević.
He was joined by Zaječar Mayor Vladimir Videnović, as well as former basketball players Marko Kešelj, Željko Rebrača, Jugoslav Petrović…
After the event ended, a pre-election campaign video appeared on Miloš Vučević’s official Instagram profile, with children from Zaječar visible in some of the footage.
In the controversial Instagram video, Vučević takes a shot at goal, while one of the participants, after saving the goal, says, “This is how we will defend Serbia on October 25.”
At the end of the video, Vučević and the others ask, “Who is the best?”, and then, together with several children, answer, “Serbia!”
It was the end of the 18th episode of the “With Miloš on the Campaign Trail” series, and the beginning of numerous questions from confused and concerned parents who believe their children were politically exploited.
How did it all begin?
In a statement to Nova, Ivana Micković, the mother of a child from Zaječar, said that their relative participated in the event as a gymnast, which was why they went to support them.
“We learned about the event through them, because they were told to bring their brothers and sisters, which is what we did,” Micković said.
The Nova interviewee added that as soon as they arrived at Popova Beach, they realized what was going on because of the large police and security presence, after which they soon returned home.
Micković said that the children received an apology from their coach, but that no explanation was provided by the authorities.
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“My husband’s niece is in a Viber group, and the gymnastics coach apologized there, saying that they did not know what was going to happen, which I believe. I saw coaches from the sports school there whom I know for sure would not have taken part in it had they been informed in time,” Micković said.
She added that the children received another invitation the day after the controversial event, this time to the “Izađi na teglu” (“Come Out to the Pot”) event, where ajvar is prepared, but only four children attended.
“Gymnastics was supposed to be part of it again, but the parents did not agree because of everything that happened. Only four girls came. After that, the coach apologized again and said that she felt uncomfortable. No parent received anything more than that. If I had known, I would not have taken my child there. There is nothing wrong with Mr. Vučević coming and supporting an event, but the parents signed a consent form that clearly states that the children would be photographed for the purpose of promoting sports. That did not happen, because this was an SNS promotion,” Micković said, adding that she would like to know who actually organized the gathering.
Misused consent?
The Glas Zaječara portal also published the consent form signed by the parents, which states that “the child may participate in the Sports Day at Popova Beach in Zaječar, organized by the Sports Association of the City of Zaječar, which will be held on September 20, 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m.”
“I also hereby consent to the child being recorded and photographed for the purpose of publishing recordings and video material in the media and on internet platforms with the aim of promoting sports,” the consent form states.
Nova contacted the city’s Sports Association, the mayor’s office, and the information service of the Serbian Progressive Party regarding the event in Zaječar. By the time this article was published, the portal had not received an answer as to whether the parents had been informed in advance that Miloš Vučević would be attending the event and filming the children, and would subsequently use the video for political purposes.
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Source: Nova.rs, Foto: Radule Perisic / ATAImages
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