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Belgrade Waterfront Protesters Stage Fresh Rally
Protesters are holding a new rally on Saturday to continue calls for the resignations of the Belgrade officials responsible for the nocturnal Savamala demolitions in the Serbian capital in April.
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Civic movement Ne Davimo Beograd, "Let's not drown Belgrade", is staging another mass demonstration in the Serbian capital on Saturday to continue their demands for the resignations of the Belgrade officials responsible for the nocturnal demolitions in the city’s waterside Savamala district in April.
The protesters are calling for the removal of Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic, the President of the Belgrade City Assembly, Nicholas Nikodijevic, and acting Belgrade police chief Vladimir Rebic.
After an estimated 20,000 demonstrators took part in the previous rally on June 11, the protest organisers are again expecting the crowd to number in the tens of thousands.
Demonstrators will meet outside of the Assembly of the City of Belgrade at 6pm and will march to the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade, where the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior are situated.On the evening of April 24, a group of around 30 masked men tore down buildings in the Savamala district - where the controversial, Arab-funded Belgrade Waterfront project is to be built - sparking a mass protest on the streets of the capital, with fresh demonstrations being held every two weeks since.
After an eyewitness to the demolitions died on May 25 as a result of heart problems, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic was faced with additional pressure to name those responsible for the destruction in Hercegovacka Street, eventually admitting on June 8 that it was senior Belgrade officials.Follow our live coverage of today’s protest from 6pm.
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The previous protest on June 11 organised by protest movement Ne Davimo Beograd, "Let's not drown Belgrade", attracted an estimated 20,000 people, who marched to the Serbian government building to demand the resignations of the Belgrade officials responsible for the night-time demolitions in the capital's Savamala district, where the Belgrade Waterfront development is to be erected.
Protest organisers are again expecting tens of thousands to attend today's protest, which starts at 6pm.
Photo: BIRN/Ljubisa Banovic -
Ahead of today’s mass protest in the Serbian capital, the organisers of the demonstration, Ne Davimo Beograd ('Let’s Not Drown Belgrade'), say the resignations of those responsible for the nocturnal demolitions in Belgrade’s Savamala district is the first step towards the criminal prosecution for the crime.
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Thousands of protesters are currently arriving outside Belgrade’s City Hall in the centre of the Serbian capital, not only on foot, but also bicycle.
Around 200 people, believed to be from Critical Mass, a monthly bike ride event that takes place in Belgrade, have cycled to the site of the start of the protest.Many of those who have arrived are making their presence known by blowing whistles.
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Around 200 people on bicycles have arrived outside the Assembly of the City of Belgrade to join in tonight's protest against the waterfront demolitions in Belgrade's Savamala district.
Photo: Pedja Urosevic -
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Addressing the crowd of protesters, journalist Milos Vasic from Vreme weekly said: "What happened in Savamala happens every day. This government is postponing answers for questions [about] who ordered police not to act. In the Savamala case, I'm demanding answers on behalf of all of you [citizens of Belgrade]."
Photo: Natalia Zaba -
The protest walk has started, with the crowd - estimated to number between 7-10,000 - heading towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs.by emma.krstic via YouTube 6/25/2016 4:51:04 PM -
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People voicing their opposition to the protest are holding provocative signs along the route as demonstrators pass. One reads: "You can give the duck to papa or mama can take it as well", referring to the replica yellow duck that has become a symbol of the Ne Davimo Beograd, "Let's not drown Belgrade", movement.
Protest organisers are asking demonstrators not to react to them.
Photo: Natalia Zaba
Photo: Natalia Zaba -
The protest, now 15,000 strong, is heading through a tunnel towards Brankov bridge to cross into New Belgrade to get to the Interior Ministry.
During the protests against Slobodan Milosevic's regime in the 1990s, protesters would also pass through this bridge, but travelling in the opposite direction, from New Belgrade to the city centre.
Photo: Pedja Urosevic
Photo: Pedja Urosevic -
One side of Brankov bridge has been blocked to road traffic as protesters start their march across it and their numbers continue to rise.
People in the cars which have been stopped from crossing the bridge do not seem annoyed and appear to support the protest.
Police have started to follow the demonstrators on their route to the Interior Ministry in New Belgrade.by emma.krstic via YouTube 6/25/2016 5:20:47 PM -
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Earlier in the evening, Ne Davimo Beograd activist Natalija Simovic addressed the crowd of protesters in front of the Assembly of the City of Belgrade, saying that lies by the government "will not pass" and repeating requests for the resignations of Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali, the President of the City Assembly, Nicholas Nikodijevic, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic, and acting Belgrade police chief Vladimir Rebic.by emma.krstic via YouTube 6/25/2016 5:34:12 PM
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Around a dozen counter-protesters are bearing provocative signs for demonstrators to see as they continue to cross Brankov bridge.
They are believed to belong to the same group that recently demonstrated in Serbia’s northern province, Vojvodina, during protests by local activists and journalists supporting freedom of the media.
The signs refer to the replica yellow duck that has become a symbol of the Ne Davimo Beograd, "Let's not drown Belgrade" movement, and include the message "You can give the duck to papa or mama can take it as well".
Protest organisers are urging demonstrators not to react. -
The front of the protest march has now reached the Palace of Serbia, where the Interior Ministry’s headquarters is located.
The big yellow replica duck, a symbol of the protest movement, is positioned in front of the building.
Tens of thousands of protesters continue to make their way to the palace.
Photo: Natalia Zaba -
Representatives from the protest organisers, Ne Davimo Beograd, "Let's not drown Belgrade", will give their final address to the crowd of demonstrators in a few minutes.
Some 25,000 protesters are currently gathered outside the Palace of Serbia in New Belgrade, the final stop on tonight's rally route. -
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During the address from Radovan Milanovic, a members of the ‘Let’s not drown Belgrade’ movement, in front of the Palace of Serbia, the crowd of protesters started singing ‘Ay Carmela’, a famous song among troops during the Spanish Civil War and which has become an unofficial anthem of the demonstrations against the nocturnal demolitions in Belgrade’s Savamala district.by emma.krstic via YouTube 6/25/2016 6:40:26 PM
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Radomir Lazovic, from Let's not drown Belgrade civic movement, told the crowd in front of the Palace of Serbia that “the fight with the government will be long and enduring”, but said they will not let the government “steal the city from its citizens.”
Lazovic reiterated calls for the Belgrade officials responsible for the nocturnal Savamala demolitions to resign, which include Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali and Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic.
He referred to the government as a “dark force” and claimed its members “want to protect the interests of their parties, bothers and cousins…not the citizens.”
Lazovic added: “It is our duty to protect the city and to take care of the weakest. Those who need help will get help.”
His speech was interrupted on multiple occasions by protesters chanting “our city, our city”, “Resignations!” and “thieves!” -
During his address to the crowd in front of the Palace of Serbia, Let's not drown Belgrade representative Radomir Lazovic also referred to the counter-protesters situated along the route of tonight's protest in the Serbian capital, saying there was a lot of provocation along the route, but security from the initiative had prevented any trouble from arising.
Photo: Natalia Zaba -
Let’s not drown Belgrade’s Radomir Lazovic ended his address by promising the government that the movement, and the citizens of Belgrade who support it, will not stop until justice has been delivered to those responsible for the nocturnal demolitions in Belgrade’s waterside Savamala district.
“This thing [the demolitions] shall not pass [without justice]. This is not a political claim or political message, but this is our promise to them.”
He added: “We [citizens of Belgrade] want to live with dignity.” -
Tonight's protest against the nocturnal demolitions in Belgrade's Savamala district have ended and the 25,000-strong crowd has started to disperse.
Some people remain at the Palace of Justice - the final stop on the rally route - and are playing music and dancing.
Photo: Natalia Zaba -
Civic movement Ne davimo Beograd, "Let's not drown Belgrade", organised its biggest protest yet on Saturday evening, with some 25,000 people estimated to have taken part in the latest demonstration against the nocturnal demolitions in the Serbian capital’s waterside Savamala district.
During the protest, demonstrators reiterated their calls for the resignations of the Belgrade officials responsible for the demolitions on Hercegovacka street on April 24.
The protest route started at the Assembly of the City of Belgrade and ended at the Palace of Serbia, travelling via Brankov bridge, where protesters blocked one side of the roadway to traffic.
Around a dozen counter-protesters bearing provocative signs were stationed along the route, but demonstrators adhered to calls not to react coming from Ne davimo Beograd members.
The counter-protesters are believed to belong to the same group that recently demonstrated in Serbia’s northern province, Vojvodina, during protests by local activists and journalists supporting freedom of the media.
Radomir Lazovic, from Let's not drown Belgrade civic movement, told the crowd in front of the Palace of Serbia that “the fight with the government will be long and enduring”, but promised the government that the movement, and the citizens of Belgrade who support it, will not stop until justice has been delivered.
Scroll down to see our full coverage from across the evening.
Tonight’s coverage was brought to you by BIRN’s Belgrade-based team, which included Milivoje Pantovic, Natalia Zaba and Pedja Urosevic.
The last of the crowd crossing Brankov bridge | Photo: Ljubisa Banovic
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