Serbia Pride may be banned over violence fears

Serbian authorities are considering banning Sunday’s Pride march.

Yesterday, the country’s police chief warned that marchers in Belgrade may face violence from far-right extremists.

Interior minister Ivica Dacic said that the event is a major security risk for the public, police and property as a far-right group plans to hold a march at the same time.

He told Reuters: “If I were the organisers I would recognise our security assessment and I would postpone the parade.

“If they do not make such a decision, the police will be forced to do so, as no one else will.”
Belgrade’s mayor has also called for the event to be banned,

Last year, 100 people – mostly police officers – were injured when 20,000 people held a counter-protest against the gay marchers.

Serbia’s police chief, Ivica Dacic, has urged organisers to cancel the event, although he said police would protect them if the march goes ahead.

Organiser Goran Miletic told Reuters that authorities should not give in to threats of violence.

“Violence is not normal. What is normal in a democratic country is to have people rallying peacefully for a couple of hours,” he said.