Anti-government protesters attempted to storm a city hall in Serbia on Sunday (December 24).
Police used tear gas to disperse crowds who alleged fraud at last week’s general election. Officers had to step-in after the activists smashed windows and attempted to storm city hall in Belgrade.
Protesters claim police used excessive forces. They say they were protesting after the government “manipulated” the election that was won by the ruling party, reports the BBC.
President Aleksander Vucic however says the claims are “rubbish and lies”. The Green-Left Front’s co-leader, Radomir Lazovic, says officers beat him and a number of other people with truncheons.
A number of peaceful protests have been held every evening since last week’s national and local elections. But Sunday was the first time one of the demonstrations turned violent.
Activists from the Serbia Against Violence opposition coalition attempted to access Belgrade city hall. Opposition leaders Srdjan Milivojevic and Vladimir Obradovic tried to open the door to the building.
Police used pepper spray to try and repel the protest. And opposition leaders now suspect agents provocateurs tried to smash windows.
Sofija Mandic, a lawyer, told those assembled that Vucic should “hand over power peacefully”. She said the government was “usurping” power.
The protesters claim the incumbent government bused in thousands of people to swing the vote in Belgrade. They are demanding the vote is re-run.
The election say Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party win a majority in parliament. But reports both domestically and internationally say there appeared to be “irregularities”.
This includes suggestions of ballot box stuffing and vote buying. Vucic blamed the unrest on foreign interference when he addressed Serbians on Sunday.
The opposition has denounced the results, claiming they are fraudulent. They had hoped to either win a majority or take control of Belgrade.
It led to the daily protests and hunger strikes from several leading figured.
The electoral commission said it would re-run some 30 polling stations – out of 8,000. While Germany has said the allegations of misconduct are “unnaceptable.”
