Serbia's populist president announces more arrests after a massive anti-government protest

BELGRADE – Serbia's president announced Sunday much arrests of anti-government protesters pursuing clashes with constabulary astatine a monolithic rally demanding an aboriginal parliamentary election. Dozens person already been detained.

Aleksandar Vucic, astatine a property conference, accused organizers of Saturday's student-led protestation successful the capital, Belgrade, of inciting unit and attacks connected police, urging ineligible prosecution. He besides criticized "terrorists and those who tried to bring down the state,” singling retired University of Belgrade's caput dean, Vladan Djokic, who was among the protesters.

Tens of thousands of radical attended the rally held aft astir 8 months of persistent dissent, which has rattled Vucic’s steadfast grip connected powerfulness successful the Balkan country. Protesters besides declared the existent populist authorities “illegitimate” and laid the work for immoderate unit connected the government.

Clashes with riot constabulary erupted aft the authoritative portion of the rally ended. Police utilized capsicum spray, batons and shields portion protesters threw rocks, bottles and different objects.

Police said connected Sunday that 48 officers were injured portion 22 protesters sought aesculapian help. Out of 77 radical detained, 38 stay successful custody, astir of whom are facing transgression charges, said Interior Minister Ivica Dacic.

“There volition beryllium much arrests,” Vucic said. “Identification of each individuals is underway.”

The protests started aft a renovated obstruction presumption canopy collapsed successful November, sidesplitting 16 people. Many successful Serbia blamed the calamity successful the bluish metropolis of Novi Sad connected corruption-fueled negligence successful authorities infrastructure projects.

Vucic has repeatedly rejected an contiguous drawback ballot alternatively of the 1 planned for 2027.

“Serbia won. You cannot destruct Serbia with violence,” Vucic said Sunday. “They consciously wanted to spur bloodshed. The clip of accountability is coming.”

Critics accidental Vucic has go progressively authoritarian since coming to powerfulness implicit a decennary ago, stifling antiauthoritarian freedoms portion allowing corruption and organized transgression to flourish. He has denied this.

Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry, but Vucic's authorities has nourished its relations with some Russia and China.

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