Press conference held instead of Pride Parade

Pride Parade organizers hosted a news conference on Sunday under the slogan “Parade within four walls”. The participants and organizers expressed criticism of the police decision to ban all high-risk meetings scheduled for the weekend, including the Pride Parade. Press conference held instead of Pride Parade Representative of the Parade organizers Goran Miletic stated that the only Pride Parade that could be organized was the one within four walls. European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that it was not known whether the ban of the parade would affect the recommendation of the European Commission, but that it would certainly have an effect on the member countries in charge of deciding whether the document regarding Serbia's progress on its EU path would be adopted. According to Kacin, the nature of the decision to ban the Pride Parade is political and the police are capable of protecting the Parade just as they are when it comes to a football match. Belgrade Centre for Human Rights Director Vojin Dimitrijevic stated that by adopting the decision to ban the meetings scheduled for the weekend, including the Pride Parade, the government showed that they had no means to protect those whose rights were guaranteed in the Constitution. Faculty of Electrical Engineering Professor Srbijanka Turajlic noted that by their perseverance, participants of the Pride Parade pointed to the complete disorientation of the country. She believes that the government is not helpless under the pressures of hooligans, but rather that it does not want to do anything to cause their dissatisfaction because it probably needs them for some other activities. Actress Mirjana Karanovic made an ironic remark saying it seemed that several hundred up to one thousand people who wanted to take a walk along Belgrade streets are the enemy who can destroy and jeopardize Serbia's prosperous society. The conference hosted in the Media Centre was secured by the police and ended peacefully. Pride Parade organizers are seen at the press conference (Beta)

Press conference held instead of Pride Parade

Representative of the Parade organizers Goran Miletić stated that the only Pride Parade that could be organized was the one within four walls.

European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia Jelko Kacin said that it was not known whether the ban of the parade would affect the recommendation of the European Commission, but that it would certainly have an effect on the member countries in charge of deciding whether the document regarding Serbia's progress on its EU path would be adopted.

According to Kacin, the nature of the decision to ban the Pride Parade is political and the police are capable of protecting the Parade just as they are when it comes to a football match.

Belgrade Centre for Human Rights Director Vojin Dimitrijević stated that by adopting the decision to ban the meetings scheduled for the weekend, including the Pride Parade, the government showed that they had no means to protect those whose rights were guaranteed in the Constitution.

Faculty of Electrical Engineering Professor Srbijanka Turajlić noted that by their perseverance, participants of the Pride Parade pointed to the complete disorientation of the country.

She believes that the government is not helpless under the pressures of hooligans, but rather that it does not want to do anything to cause their dissatisfaction because it probably needs them for some other activities.

Actress Mirjana Karanović made an ironic remark saying it seemed that several hundred up to one thousand people who wanted to take a walk along Belgrade streets are the enemy who can destroy and jeopardize Serbia's prosperous society.

The conference hosted in the Media Centre was secured by the police and ended peacefully.