WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
Mihajlo Maletić, a citizen who came to the Faculty of Law in Belgrade last night to support the students, told N1 that he has not yet recovered from the shock of what happened, adding that someone will have to be held accountable for “that crime.”
“The police launched a savage charge at the students — right here, on the plateau in front of the faculty. The students were trying to retreat into the building. The police caught up with them on the stairs; they were falling — one girl fell on the steps. The police dragged them violently to the sidewalk, lined them up, handcuffed. I don’t know how many ended up at the station, but what happened here last night is a crime against those young people, and someone will have to answer for it,” he said.
He added that there were injured individuals.
“Of course there were. I personally witnessed two girls tripping while trying to get back inside the faculty. The police didn’t even bother to try to help them in any way — they just dragged them to where they were lining them up and putting them in vans. It was truly a sad scene, a heartbreaking image. I’m still not okay after what I saw,” Maletić emphasized.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m., when the gendarmerie arrived in front of the faculty.
Maletić explained that most of the students were on the plateau.
“I was standing close to the stairs. At that moment, the police parked at the intersection. They very quickly exited the vehicles and charged. The very moment they got out, they launched an assault,” the citizen recalled.
He emphasized that citizens had come to support the students in their civil disobedience.
“I’d just like to remind you that citizens have exhausted all their options in terms of addressing official institutions. On May 27, there was a protest in front of the Stari Grad police station, when citizens demanded the release of Pionirski Park. The police didn’t respond.
Later, on June 5, citizens addressed the Stari Grad municipal assembly. They weren’t allowed inside. Then came the protest in front of the City Assembly, where turbo-folk music was played from Pionirski Park during a 16-minute silence held for 16 victims. After exhausting all options for addressing institutions, citizens had to turn to civil disobedience. And now it seems even that isn’t allowed,” he said.
Students from the Faculty of Law stated on social media that the police also tried to enter the building, but were stopped by students who managed to get inside and lock themselves in.
We asked him how that part looked to him...
“As far as I remember, the police did want to enter the faculty building, but the students ran back toward it. Some managed to get inside and lock the doors, while others remained on the steps. Those who stayed and were caught by the police were arrested and taken away. The ones who entered locked themselves in, and as far as I know, the police didn’t manage to get in,” he said.
He emphasized that the same police who have been blocking Pionirski Park 24/7 for three months and guarding its fences are also moving through the city violently dispersing citizen and student protests.
“That’s pure hypocrisy — it shows citizens that if you’re on the regime’s side, you can block whatever you want and the police will protect you. But if you’re not on the regime’s side, the police will violently break you up, pursue you, and beat you,” he stressed.
