Скачать или смотреть Thousands gather to support Serbia president

(26 May 2023)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Belgrade - 26 May 2023
1. Various top shots of supporters arriving at rally
2. Various supporters carrying Serbian flags arriving at rally
3. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Slavica Cvetkovic, attendee from Urosevac in Kosovo:
”We came from Kosovo, to support our Vucko (Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic). We admire him and it should be like this all the time.”
4. Supporters arriving carrying flags going to rally
5. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Nenad Milenkovic, Physical Education teacher from Orahovac in Kosovo:
”We came from Metohija, from Orahovac, to support Serbia, to support our Aleksandar Vucic, because he does the best for us. We came with all our hearts, I came with my own car, at our own expense and it is not problem at all, just to be with our people here altogether.”
6. Various of supporters walking on street, going to rally
7. Various of supporters at rally holding banners and flags
STORYLINE:
Supporters of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic gathered in Belgrade on Friday for a rally in support of the leader.

Braving the rain, they answered his call for “the largest rally in the history of Serbia.”

Many of them were bused to Belgrade from all over the Balkan country, as well as neighbouring Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. 

Those working in state firms and institutions were told to take a day off from work to attend the rally in front of the parliament.

Some claimed they were warned that they could lose their jobs if they did not go out to support Vucic.

He is facing an unprecedented revolt against his autocratic rule amid a crisis sparked by two mass shootings that stunned the nation.

Friday's event was somewhat overshadowed by a new crisis in the north of neighbouring Kosovo.

Ethnic Serbs there clashed with Kosovo police in protest at the appointment of ethnic Albanian mayors.

Vucic ordered Serbian troops to be put on a “higher state of alert.”

He also ordered an “urgent” movement of Serbian troops to the border with Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.

===========================================================

Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: [email protected].

Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...