Mayor of Novi Sad Milan Djuric: Protests Used as a Political Platform

Milan Djuric (BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

Mayor of Novi Sad, Milan Djuric, said that the protests organized in Novi Sad in response to a Nov. 1 roof collapse at Novi Sad’s train station that killed 15 people, did not echo compassion, solidarity, or respect for the victims, but were "used as a political platform" instead.

In a post on his Instagram profile, Djuric said that the opposition, movements closed to it, and non-governmental organizations, had been using "violence and blackmail" since the beginning of the protests.

"From the very first day, it has been clear that they are using the tragedy as their political platform. That’s why they block streets and institutions. That’s why they disrupt the lives of ordinary people. They want to gain power on the street, as they can’t win in elections," Djuric wrote.

The major of Vojvodina’s capital underlined that protesters had harassed ordinary people the day before, "bullying, pushing, and insulting them," adding that "violence against women, insults, and humiliation cannot be considered European values." "Novi Sad is not and will not be a city of violence. Power is won in elections, not on the street," Djuric concluded.