Tag: Belgrade

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LGBT Pride Parade Proceeds Without Incident In Belgrade, Serbia

Despite being cancelled several times in past years, with helicopters in the air and thousands of police deployed, an LGBT Pride parade took place without incident in Belgrade, Serbia, this past Sunday.

Taking part in the celebrations were mayor of Belgrade Sinisa Mali, Democratic Party DS and Cedomir Jovanovic, President of the Liberal Democratic Party, LDP.

Via Pink News:

Previous parades have been cancelled, and the four years leading up to 2014 saw the parade banned after violent clashes took place between extremists and police.

Back in 2014, hundreds of people took part in the first Belgrade Pride parade permitted to go ahead in four years.

The previous time police allowed Belgrade Pride to go ahead was 2010, when it was marred by violent stand-offs with far-right extremists. Around 100 people were injured at the event, as extremists threw petrol bombs at the police and gay rights activists.

The event has been cancelled every year since, with the 2011, 2012 and 2013 parades all being banned by authorities over fears of violence.

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Belgrade Hosts First Gay Pride Celebration in Four Years

Yesterday in Belgrade, over 1,000 people took part in the first gay pride event in four years.

The past three years saw pride events cancelled due to threats and protests. Only small outbreaks of violence occurred thanks in great part to the protection by thousands of riot police.

From Gay Star News:

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic warned yesterday that ‘whoever tries to provoke incidents will be very, very severely punished.’

Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali and Michael Davenport, the head of the European Union’s delegation to Serbia, were among the politicians and dignitaries in attendance.

‘Belgrade is an open city, which means it is open to all and that everyone here is equal,’ Mali said, as reported by Radio Free Europe.

The country, which is pursuing EU membership, has reportedly come under pressure from the Union, which says the event is a test of Serbia’s commitment to the fundamental freedoms promoted by the bloc.

Homophobia is widespread in Serbia, often supported by right-wing parties and church leaders.