Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today that he personally apologizes to all students and citizens for the statement by Information Minister Boris Bratina, who said earlier that the police have the right to beat and kill students during a protest, and he in turn specified that his words were taken out of context, Serbian public television RTS reported, quoted by BTA.
„Such a statement should not be allowed, regardless of the context. (...) This is an unforgivable bad statement“, Vucic said.
He also pointed out that in the country where he is president, no one will kill students.
„The police will not kill students. Even those who responded to the attacks paid a high price, both in terms of sentences and financial sanctions. "My personal apologies to all students and citizens for the unforgivable bad statement made by the minister," Vučić said, adding that this was the first time he had heard Boris Bratina's words.
Serbian Information Minister Bratina made the statement, which sparked strong criticism, on April 4, when Serbia marks Students' Day in memory of student Zarko Marinović, who was killed on that day in 1936 during student demonstrations.
Bratina's comment was made in response to a protest at the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade, called on March 31 by students in defense of the rector and academic freedom.