Serbia: Protesters attack parliament over imposition of coronavirus curfew

Citizens in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, have protested against the imposition of a curfew in the wake of an increase in cases of the coronavirus and tried to storm parliament.

Clashes broke out between protesters and police outside the National Assembly in Belgrade, according to the Reports.

Reports stated that the citizens had started a peaceful protest a day ago in which students and women were also participating. However, when the government announced another weekly curfew, the anger of the people intensified.

The protesters entered the assembly while the police intervened and tried to stop them, injuring several people. Police fired tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators.

According to the report, far-right nationalists were accused of damaging the assembly building and causing tension.

Serbian media said the protesters included a member of parliament who was involved in anti-vaccine and anti-fusion conspiracy ideologies.

The protesters said that the protest was of immediate nature which was against the re-imposition of curfew while many protesters were seen wearing masks and following other measures including social distance.

Clashes broke out between police and protesters as protesters entered the assembly building and chanted slogans.

The Serbian prime minister condemned the attack on parliament, saying Serbia and its health care system were facing the worst of the pandemic, but that parliament had been attacked.

Serbia had the highest number of deaths from the coronavirus on July 7.

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić said in his address that 13 people had been killed and 120 had been evacuated, while 4,000 were already being treated in hospitals.

He said a state of emergency had been declared in Belgrade, after which he announced a ban on gatherings of more than five people and said a curfew would be imposed from 6 pm on Friday to 5 am on Monday.

The Serbian president said the curfew would be limited to the capital, Belgrade, but also hinted at a nationwide expansion.

The Coronavirus has dramatically changed the situation in Serbia, and authorities have declared a state of emergency in several cities and towns.

Opposition groups called for a halt to the protests, saying “the president has relaxed the lockdown and allowed football matches to start in May in the presence of spectators.”

The government had also revived the movement of citizens in the run-up to the June 21 election, and President Vusk’s party won a landslide victory across the country.

Critics say the government is not even releasing accurate statistics on coronavirus deaths, while officials say the number of cases in the country is increasing by 300 on a daily basis.

According to officials, 16,719 cases and 330 victims have been killed in Serbia.

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