Izvor: N1 televizija, 30.Apr.2018, 19:30 (ažurirano 02.Apr.2020.)
Serbia’s Interior Minister: No rallies in downtown Hrtkovci
Nebojsa Stefanovic, Serbia’s Interior Minister, said on Monday that neither of the two announced gatherings in the northern village of Hrtkovci would go ahead on May 6.
Speaking to Radio-Television Vojvodina (RTV), Stefanovic said that the rallies were banned due to the ministry’s assessment of the risk involving an ultra-nationalist and opposing democratic gatherings announced for May 6.
Both sides can appeal the ban.
“Hrtkovci population is upset,” >> Pročitaj celu vest na sajtu N1 televizija << Stefanovic said, adding that the gatherings could not get permissions regardless of the both organisers’ saying they would be peaceful.
A Serb ultra-nationalist and convicted war criminal Vojislav Seselj has announced a gathering in Hrtkovci to mark the 26th anniversary of the rally during which he gave an inflammatory speech after which ethnic Croats left the village in fear for their lives.
The Hague Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia has recently sentenced him to 10 years in prison, but since he had spent that time in custody, he is not returning to jail.
Two opposition parties said they would also gather in Hrtkovci “to prevent Seselj from coming back to the crime scene.”
Following Stefanovic’s first announcement of the ban, Seselj said that he and his supporters would stroll the streets of Hrtkovci if the rally was banned.
The opposition said they would prevent Seselj from coming to Hrtkovci “if the state cannot do that.”
Confirming his decision, Stefanovic said he banned both rallies regardless of any political motive for the gatherings, adding security was his only concern.
He said that any attempt to hold rallies or attack on police would be met with appropriate police action. “I guarantee you that no gathering will be held in downtown Hrtkovci,” Stefanovic added.
