The ruling Serbian Progressive Party /SPP/ strongly condemned the "scandalous coverage of the blockades in Novi Sad by the state television RTS, dariknews.bg reported.
According to the SPP, the television has "violated all the rules and values of objective and impartial journalism with its scandalous reports".
The blockade of the three bridges in Novi Sad was the leading news for RTS, which devoted five minutes to the protest. “Those who should be defending the public interest have most brutally sided with politicians who want to destroy the constitutional order of Serbia, violated all journalism codes and grossly abused the journalistic profession“, the SPP statement said. The party stressed that “in the coming days they will initiate all necessary processes and do everything to protect the institutions of Serbia”.
The SPP was established by President Aleksandar Vučić and is today formally led by Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, who resigned three days ago.
Three months after the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy, which killed 15 people, the city has become a symbol of the rebellion against President Aleksandar Vučić's regime. All three key bridges in Novi Sad - the Varadin Bridge, the Freedom Bridge and the Žežel Bridge - were completely blocked by tens of thousands of students and citizens.
The column of students arrived in Novi Sad on Friday evening after an 80-kilometer march from Belgrade.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said that the mass protests by students and the opposition are connected to a direct attempt by foreign intelligence services to destroy the country.
The protesters are blocking the work of many higher education institutions, blocking roads and transport hubs almost daily, although they are not organizing major riots. Among their demands are: publication of the documentation for the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station, investigation and criminal liability for the officials involved in the tragedy.