Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that the mass riots and attacks on buildings in Belgrade are part of an “attempt at a color revolution, organized and paid for from outside“.
Speaking in front of the destroyed offices of the Serbian Progressive Party (SPP) in Belgrade, the head of state stressed that the protesters had acted with exceptional aggression. “People could see with their own eyes today what I spoke about yesterday. This is the only thing they know how to do - to destroy and burn“, he said.
Vucic showed journalists his cut hand in front of the destroyed office of the party. "You see what kind of hooligans and thugs we are dealing with," he said. The president stressed that the protesters, apart from violence, "are not able to offer anything to the people." Vucic said that "everything is happening within the framework of an attempt at a color revolution, organized and paid for from the outside, where they do not select the funds, as long as they seize power by force."
"They have neither the trust of the people nor a program," the Serbian leader stressed. He added that he intends to write a book about "how the color revolution was thwarted and why Serbia refused sanctions against Russia."
"Every night they will look for a place to set something on fire until someone is killed. But the state will act decisively. We do not need any external instructions, we will restore order in our country and free citizens from terror and evil,“ the Serbian leader stressed.
“We will appear everywhere, we will resist and restore what has been destroyed. We will continue to fight for our Serbia and for our party,“ he said.
Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said at a night press conference that around 2,300-2,400 protesters had gathered in Belgrade, attacked police, overturned and set fire to garbage containers, and set fire to and destroyed the premises of the Serbian Progressive Party. The minister noted that five people have been detained so far and all those involved in committing crimes and violations will be punished. “This was an unprecedented aggression,“ he stressed.