When the Regime Hits the Gas: Belgrade's Tragic Reality and the Legacy of Požarevac
A tragedy on the streets of Belgrade highlights the ongoing tactic of violence used by the regime against its citizens. Today’s student blockade once again became a target, while Vučić continues to justify the violence. Support is pouring in from all across Serbia, but who is really pulling the strings?
Today's Incident: Belgrade.
Today, in Belgrade, a law student was struck by a car during a peaceful blockade. The driver, in a chilling echo of the recent events in Požarevac, didn't stop. He dragged the young woman across the street, continuing his ride before fleeing the scene. This wasn’t just a moment of reckless driving, it was another tragic example of how the regime, from the top down, has given a green light to such violence.
Will we hear from Vučić again about the “right to pass” while someone’s still stuck on the hood of a car? Will he justify this kind of brutality as "self-defense" against protesters who dare to demand change?
The Požarevac Precedent: A Recipe for Violence
Just a short time ago, a similar incident occurred in Požarevac. During a protest blockade, a driver chose to treat demonstrators as nothing more than obstacles to run over. One brave protester attempted to stop the car by sitting on its hood, only to be dragged through the streets. What was Vučić’s response to this violence? Instead of condemnation, he justified the act, stating that the driver had the “right to pass.”
This was no isolated incident. It was a statement, a dangerous precedent that allowed for this kind of violence to flourish. And today’s incident in Belgrade? It’s the direct consequence of that same toxic logic.
Support from Serbia:
The more brutal the violence, the louder the resistance. Support for the students and the injured protester has come from across the country:
- Academic Community: Professors and students from multiple universities have rallied in support. The teachers of the Tenth Gymnasium "Mihajlo Pupin" suspended classes, while university professors joined the protests in the streets.
- Declaration: An organization ProGlas has called for mass blockades across Serbia, saying “it’s time for the people to take matters into their own hands.”
- Civic Movements: The "Kreni-Promeni" movement filed a criminal complaint against President Vučić for inciting violence.
- Cultural Institutions: Belgrade theaters and the Serbian National Theater canceled performances in solidarity.
The Regime’s Dark Playbook
Today’s violence wasn’t an isolated act of madness; it’s part of a larger, systematic pattern. While people like Damir Zobenica and Novak Nedić may take on the roles of "organizers of executioners," they are merely pawns in Vučić's larger game. These figures, tied to criminal organizations, huliganism, and shady business deals, are the muscle, the enforcers. But Vučić? He’s the orderer.
He created this environment of fear, where thugs and cronies are sent to silence anyone who dares challenge the status quo.
Responsibility: Vučić at the Helm
This isn't about a few bad apples. This is a system built to oppress. The BIA, the police,they are just the tools Vučić has placed in power to carry out his agenda. For years, he’s filled these institutions with his loyalists, mediocre, half-educated cronies who now carry out his orders. But make no mistake: the mastermind behind this violence is Vučić himself.
International Community: Time to Hold Vučić Accountable
As Vučić’s regime continues to bulldoze over the will of the people, the international community can no longer afford to stay silent. The violence, the oppression, and the systematic disregard for human rights need to be stopped. This is a moment for global leaders and human rights organizations to step in and hold Vučić accountable for the carnage he’s orchestrating.
Vučić may think he can keep dodging the consequences, but he knows that “tomorrow” isn’t far off. Everything he's done today will come back to haunt him, and that moment is drawing closer by the day.
Draw your own conclusions.
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