Belgrade, Serbia – Thousands of people joined out of a pro -government television station in Serbia on Saturday accused of a propaganda campaign against university students behind months of Anti -corruption protests Raia of populist president Aleksandar Vucic.
TV report is between conventional media In Serbia Leal to Vucic and his right -wing government. TV report and the sensationalist newspaper have repeatedly described student protesters as extremists for almost five months of almost daily demonstrations.
The protests have been peacefulBut the pro -government media have accused the organizers of feeding violence and seeking to overthrow the government under orders abroad. They have not provided evidence to support those statements.
“For months, since the blockages began, we have been their goal, we have been constantly stained in the media,” said student Ivona Markovic.
The protests began after a collapsed concrete cup In November at a train station in northern Serbia, killing 16 people. The tragedy focused on the corruption of the unbridled government, which caused demands of responsibility and political changes.
The protests have exerted pressure in a Vucic increasingly authoritarianthat formally seeks the membership of the European Union to Serbia, but maintains close relations with Russia and China.
Vucic has promised a “counterrevolution” against protests. The authorities have threatened legal actions against university professors, including calls to the arrest of Vladan Djokic, the main dean of the University of Belgrade.
On Saturday, Vucic visited a camp from his loyal ones outside the presidency building, including a group of pro -government university students. He said that “those who introduced anarchy” at the university would be considered.
Student’s protests have attracted hundreds of thousands of people, hitting a chord Among the citizens who have been largely disappointed with politicians.
Using protective white costumes, several students organized a “decontamination” performance outside the TV building. A “shame wall” showed the headlines of the informant on the protests in recent months, including one that alleges protest plans for a “bloody blow.”
The students also launched a request to limit the access of the television station to the transmission frequencies. The protest called “misinformer” was scheduled to last six hours.
“This is a media war between the informant and the students, between lies and truth, abuse of power and resistance,” said the students. “They (informants) do not report, they pursue.”
The informant on Saturday received the support of the senior government officials, including the Minister of Defense. The newspaper described the protest outside its building as a “hostage crisis.”
Inform is widely observed and read in Serbia, where independent media have faced limited visibility and where critical journalists have complained of pressure, hatred campaigns and demands.
