Serbia
Government wants to prevent Europride in Belgrade
Justifies the cancellation of the parade with current crises in the country: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
On September 17, people in Belgrade want to demonstrate for the rights of non-heterosexuals. The Serbian government canceled the parade. The organizers want the move to take place anyway.
Serbia’s government has canceled the Europride parade planned for September 17 in Belgrade, in which people wanted to demonstrate for the rights of non-heterosexuals.
However, the organizers immediately said that the parade would still take place because the government had no right to ban it.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic justified the decision with current crises in the country, including the dispute with neighboring Kosovo. In agreement with the government of Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who herself lives with a woman, the decision was made to cancel the Pride.
“The state cannot cancel Europride – it can only try to ban it, which would be a clear violation of the constitution,” said Marko Mihailovic, one of the Pride organizers, on Twitter. There are clear judgments of the Constitutional Court.
Right-wing extremist organizations and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church had previously caused a stir against the event. Europride has been organized alternately in different European capitals since 1992, Serbia should have been the first stop in Southeastern Europe.
Report on Vucic’ announcement, Serbian