SERBIAN OPPOSITION IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Demanding Sanctions for Vučić, Dačić, Macut, and Brnabić!

At the debate on Serbia in the European Parliament, Serbian MPs set out clear demands to the European Union.

Borko Stefanović from the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) said that the European Commission is slowly realizing what the problem is, and that is Aleksandar Vučić. He also mentioned the president’s pressure on free media.

“We have nervous reactions from our regime, a spiral of violence is spreading in society. Vučić is ready to bring the country to the brink of destruction. The EC is starting to understand the problem that exists in Serbia, and that is that we have Vučić’s regime which ingratiates itself with your institutions but has no intention of bringing Serbia into the EU because that would be the ruin of his regime and him. That means calling for accountability, fighting corruption, free media, unlike today when he is trying to shut down television stations N1 and Nova,” he said in his address to the EP members.

Freedom Is Ours, and the EU Is Here to Help Us

He particularly touched on the need to organize early elections, and Biljana Đorđević from the Green-Left Front also set out other demands. Among them are sanctions for Aleksandar Vučić, Ana Brnabić, Ivica Dačić, and Đura Macut.

“By favoring stability over democracy, the EU is enabling the SNS to create an authoritarian state in Serbia, portraying the EU as anti-Serbian and weak. This has led to the lowest level of support for the EU from Serbian citizens… We demand a clear condemnation of police brutality, that pressure be exerted on the regime in Serbia, we want sanctions, a travel ban, asset freezes for the key actors of the regime – Brnabić, Vučić, Macut, Dačić, from police officers to officials who carried out torture, to investigate whether the money of European taxpayers is being used for the regime’s corruption, pressure on the regime to accept elections as a solution to the crisis,” she stated during her address to the MPs.

Stefanović stated: “We must have early elections and we propose elections at all levels. We must go to them unified, in coordination with all actors, including students. We want elections, with pressure on the regime to prevent them from stealing votes and beating people. You must understand that our freedom is ours, and the EU is here to help us, and a special message is for the EPP – it’s a charade because Vučić slandered the EP members, it’s a disgrace that Vučić is a member of your family.”

Pavle Grbović from the Free Citizens Movement pointed out that words from the EU are no longer enough.

“Words are not enough. The EC and member states must call out the democratic backsliding. Do not punish Serbia and its citizens; the target of criticism and measures must be those who are truly responsible for the collapse of democracy,” he stated.

Zdravko Ponoš from SRCE spoke about the sonic cannon, growing violence, and the brutality of the police and the regime.

“Don’t be disappointed with Serbia because there is no reason, be disappointed with Vučić,” he said.

They Are Watching Us on TV in Serbia, It’s Time to Send a Message

MEPs also spoke about the situation in Serbia.

“The EP has always been clear and vocal about the situation in Serbia. We have condemned the democratic backsliding, the pressure on the media, and the weakening of the rule of law. We have also condemned the shocking escalation of violence against citizens by the police. Peaceful protests are not a crime and they are the foundation of democracy. I also salute the youth of Serbia, we remember the bicycle ride to Strasbourg and the run to Brussels – they carried a message of determination to live in a democratic and European Serbia,” said the Green MEP Vladimir Prebilič.

He also added: “They are watching us on TV in Serbia today. This is an opportunity to send a message that the world has noticed, that Europe is listening, that the EU sees you and that we are with you.”

MEP Helmut Brandstätter also spoke.

“I admire you. You are a great example for us too, in our democracies (to students). As for the media, I want to tell the Serbian media that you are not politicians, but media and you should report. From the EC, I expect strong support for Vučić. Serbia must be a part of the EU, but it cannot become a part of it with the Vučić regime,” the MEP said.