Civic initiatives strongly condemn the physical attack on activist Aleksa Pavlović that happened today in the center of Kosjerić near the stand of the Serbian Progressive Party. The activist was attacked by SNS official and the president of the local community of Makovište, Ljubiša Knežević – a person known for his violence.
We remind you that on May 16, Knežević, a former policeman, attacked the N1 television cameraman in the village of Makovište, and everything happened in the presence of the highest SNS officials, including party president Miloš Vučević and the SNS list holder in Kosjerić, Žarko Đokić. Knežević suffered no consequences for that attack, and the lack of adequate punishment for violent behavior leads to repeated incidents in which government critics are the targets.
The pre-election campaign in Kosjerić is underway, and the local elections that will be held in Kosjerić and Zaječar are the first elections since the beginning of student protests and blockades. The already existing social tension has intensified in these places, where a strong campaign by representatives of the authorities is being conducted. Just two days ago, we warned about the abuse of state institutions for the purpose of a political campaign, when the Apoteka Beograd truck arrived in the village of Kosjerić in front of the polling station and, in the presence of a nurse, a candidate on the SNS list, offered free examinations to the locals.
We call on the police and the prosecutor’s office to react urgently and prevent further repetition of such types of violence. An attack on an activist is an attack on the basic democratic principles of the election process and is an indicator of how the government intends to participate in these elections.