“They call us anarchists, enemies of the state, and terrorists. Every day, we are attacked by the pro-government press, and the government itself,” says Vladan Đokić, Rector of the University of Belgrade, in an interview with the German magazine Spiegel.
“The situation is very difficult. Arrests happen every day. Students are afraid to leave their faculties – out of fear,” Đokić warns in the interview for Spiegel, adding that the police recently appeared in front of the Faculty of Law, and entry to the campus is legally permitted only in exceptional cases. The Rector reminds that he publicly supported the students in his speech at that time, reports Deutsche Welle.
According to him, the police are reacting more harshly because the protests in Serbia, despite the summer break, are not losing intensity.
“Students and citizens are increasing pressure, including road blockades. Riots are breaking out,” Đokić says, emphasizing that the authorities are therefore applying increasingly harsh measures.
The reason for the protests was the tragedy in Novi Sad, when the canopy of the Railway Station collapsed, killing 16 people. At that time, students demanded clarification of the case and a fight against corruption, but after months of peaceful gatherings, the demands became radicalized.
“They realized that the government was not ready to respond to their demands. Now they have come to the conclusion that this can only be achieved with new elections,” Đokić says.
Although students previously believed that fair elections were not possible under current conditions, they now plan to form their own list, which, according to the Rector, would include people who have never been involved in politics – “professors, musicians, athletes, and other representatives of civil society.” Such a list, he emphasizes, is not conceived as a party, but as an attempt to reform the system and ensure conditions for free and fair elections.
Đokić openly supports the students because, as he says, they are fighting for basic democratic principles and the future of the country. “Many of my colleagues and I support them because they demand nothing less than functional institutions and want to live in a true democracy. They are the future of our country.”
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Due to his support for the protests, the Rector has become a target for the authorities and pro-government media, reports Deutsche Welle. Several criminal proceedings are being conducted against him, and he is accused of abuse of office and discrimination against students due to the suspension of classes during the blockades.
“Every day, we are attacked by the pro-government press, and the government itself. They call us anarchists, enemies of the state, and terrorists,” Đokić states for Spiegel, pointing out that there is also financial pressure through salary reductions and fines.
Despite this, the Rector has repeatedly spoken with Prime Minister Đuro Macuta, a close associate of President Vučić.
“As Rector, it is my duty to meet with the Prime Minister,” he explains, adding that they negotiated about enrollment for the next year and organizing online classes so that students could complete the academic year.
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Source: Nova.rs, Foto: ATA Images