Today is a Day of Mourning on the anniversary of the citizens who died in the canopy collapse

“The Law on the Observance of Days of Mourning in the territory of the Republic of Serbia regulates the conditions and manner of observing days of mourning in the territory of the Republic of Serbia, the obligations of state authorities and organizations, organs of territorial autonomy and local self-government, public institutions and public enterprises they establish, organizations entrusted by law with performing state administration tasks as administrative authorities, the obligations of other legal and natural persons, as well as the sanctions for failing to comply with the established obligations regarding the observance of days of mourning,” the Government’s Decision states.

According to the Government’s announcement, a Day of Mourning begins at midnight on the day designated as a day of mourning and ends at 24:00 on the last day designated as a day of mourning.

Ways of Observing a Day of Mourning

It is added that the ways of observing a day of mourning include lowering the flag to half-mast, which means that authorities and organizations, as well as other legal entities that display a flag, are obliged to lower the flag of Serbia to half of the flagpole or staff during the day of mourning, with appropriate lighting at night.

“Media coverage and commemoration means that broadcasting organizations responsible for informing the public in the territory of the Republic of Serbia are obliged, in their programs—including programs intended for foreign audiences—on the day the day of mourning is declared, to: broadcast the decision on the proclamation of the day of mourning and the program for its observance adopted by the competent Serbian authority or the body it designates; inform the public about memorial gatherings organized on the occasion of the day of mourning by the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia or bodies they designate; instead of humorous, entertainment, folk, and other programs with popular or folk music, broadcast music and programs appropriate for the day of mourning; and adjust the detailed program schedule during the day of mourning,” the announcement states.

During the day of mourning, the broadcasting of folk and popular music is prohibited, as is the organization of entertainment programs in public places, the Government noted.

It is also added that newspaper publishing organizations issuing daily newspapers are obliged, on the day of mourning, to print their editions in black, indicating on the front page the decision on the proclamation of the day of mourning and the manner of its observance.

Additionally, museums, theaters, cinemas, organizations with musical and stage programs, archives, and other cultural institutions are required to adapt their programs to the day of mourning.

A day of mourning in sports halls, stadiums, and playgrounds is observed by lowering the flag of Serbia and the flags of sports clubs to half-mast or half-staff, and in the case of sports events of international significance, by also lowering the flags of international sports organizations to half-mast or half-staff.

The Government announced that, before the start of a sports event, a referee signals the beginning and end of paying tribute with a whistle for a minute of silence and appropriate messages to honor the victims of the accident due to which the day of mourning was declared.