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Serbia
Claims of eroded democracy threaten Serbia's EU relations and economic growth<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//05//08//chinese-leader-xi-arrives-in-serbia-on-25th-anniversary-of-natos-bombing-of-the-chinese-em/">Xi kicks off Serbia visit by slamming 1999 NATO Chinese Embassy bombing<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Serbia applied for EU membership in 2009 and was accepted as an official candidate country in 2012, but since then, little progress has been made towards joining the bloc with Vu\u010di\u0107's Serbia, a country he has led since 2017, often accused of sliding towards authoritarianism.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Democratic backsliding?<\/strong><\/h2><p>The country was rocked by weekly protests last year following two mass shootings in May, which left 18 people, including nine schoolchildren, dead. Initially demanding tougher gun control laws, the rallies soon morphed into anti-government protests.<\/p>\n<p>Protesters were angry about democratic backsliding under the Vu\u010di\u0107 government, accusing it of increasing authoritarianism, corruption and having links to organised crime.<\/p>\n<p>The most recent Freedom House report ranks Serbia's political rights score at 18 out of a possible 40, placing it among the partly free, hybrid regimes category, with a downward tendency towards authoritarianism.<\/p>\n<p>Civil society representatives in the country have repeatedly said they felt betrayed by their government and Brussels for failing to move the EU membership process forward and accused Vu\u010di\u0107 of fuelling hate, intolerance and violence in the country, claims he denied.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6667131891137473\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//43//32//82//808x539_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg/" alt=\"There are concerns in Brussels about Vu\u010di\u0107's close relations with authoritarian leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/384x256_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/640x427_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/750x500_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/828x552_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/1080x720_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/1200x800_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/1920x1280_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">There are concerns in Brussels about Vu\u010di\u0107's close relations with authoritarian leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Some of Vu\u010di\u0107's political decisions have raised eyebrows in Brussels, such as Belgrade's refusal to join in with EU sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Vu\u010di\u0107 has for years claimed to follow a \"neutral\" policy, balancing ties with Moscow, Beijing, Brussels and Washington. But in an interview with the Russian news agency Tass, Vu\u010di\u0107 summed up relations between Belgrade and Moscow as \"a true friend is recognised in moments of difficulty\", adding that he would continue to resist slapping sanctions on Russia for \"as long as possible\".<\/p>\n<p>Serbia has also purchased Russian gas on favourable terms and added Russian hardware to its military arsenal.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling for the suspension of EU funding to Serbia if national authorities fail to implement its electoral recommendations and if it's revealed that Serbian authorities committed electoral fraud. That move came following accusations of serious irregularities in the Belgrade local elections.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-medium widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1719358410385137672\"><\/div>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on the Serbia-Kosovo relationship<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Another issue is Kosovo.\u00a0In April, EU foreign affairs ministers met in Luxemburg and agreed to amend Chapter 35, a key part of the negotiations portfolio concerning Serbia's negotiations to join the EU. The change means Brussels would freeze Serbia's accession process into the bloc if it didn't implement an agreement on normalising its relationship with its former province.<\/p>\n<p>The main condition for Serbia to comply with is that it must stop obstructing Kosovo's efforts to join key international organisations, such as the UN, the Council of Europe and NATO.<\/p>\n<p>However, Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo ever since it declared independence in 2008. Now, Serbia fears that accepting Kosovo's membership in these institutions will implicitly recognise its statehood, a red line Belgrade is not willing to cross.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these issues, Varhelyi remained optimistic.<\/p>\n<p>\"It is clear for me that the next commission will have to be an enlargement commission. The next commission will have to put all of its work and effort to get the new members into the European Union,\" he said.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1715631933,"updatedAt":1715675723,"publishedAt":1715662187,"firstPublishedAt":1715662191,"lastPublishedAt":1715662187,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Screenshot from AP video 4494061","altText":"Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 welcomes the EU\u2019s Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi to Belgrade","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 welcomes the EU\u2019s Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi to Belgrade","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c3cce391-b53c-55f2-986a-27cf783508d7-8433282.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"There are concerns in Brussels about Vu\u010di\u0107's close relations with authoritarian leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping","callToActionText":null,"width":7165,"caption":"There are concerns in Brussels about Vu\u010di\u0107's close relations with authoritarian leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/43\/32\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a683490b-0250-5fe4-8a08-6a70c2621c19-8433282.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":4777}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"aleksandar-vucic","titleRaw":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","id":13964,"title":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"},{"urlSafeValue":"eu-membership","titleRaw":"EU membership","id":29362,"title":"EU membership","slug":"eu-membership"},{"urlSafeValue":"eu-commission","titleRaw":"European Commission","id":90,"title":"European Commission","slug":"eu-commission"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":2,"slug":"twitter"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2527004},{"id":2534976},{"id":2537968}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"CpDxRgQoOws","dailymotionId":"x8ygq28"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":144440,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":18419019,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/05\/14\/en\/240514_E3SU_55530424_55530479_144440_024815_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":144440,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":27922251,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/E3\/SU\/24\/05\/14\/en\/240514_E3SU_55530424_55530479_144440_024815_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP, EBU","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"my-europe","id":2,"title":"My Europe","slug":"my-europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"My Europe"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","id":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":{"id":4134,"urlSafeValue":"belgrade","title":"Belgrade"},"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_misc','eu_brussels_politics_es','gs_science','gs_science_geography','gt_negative'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/my-europe\/2024\/05\/14\/is-serbia-sliding-towards-authoritarianism-or-closer-to-eu-membership","lastModified":1715662187},{"id":2537968,"cid":8422366,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240508_NWSU_55486971","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CHINESE VIEW ON XI VISIT","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"China implements trade agreement with Serbia as it expands influence in Europe","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"China and Serbia deepen ties with trade agreement green light","titleListing2":"Electric vehicles will play a key role in China's strategy in the Balkans.","leadin":"Electric vehicles will play a key role in China's strategy in the Balkans.","summary":"Electric vehicles will play a key role in China's strategy in the Balkans.","keySentence":"","url":"china-signs-free-trade-agreement-with-serbia-as-it-expands-influence-in-europe","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/05\/08\/china-signs-free-trade-agreement-with-serbia-as-it-expands-influence-in-europe","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"China and Serbia have announced they are implementing a new free trade agreement at the beginning of July,\u00a0deepening the economic and political ties between Belgrade and its biggest foreign investor. \n\nThe deal, which is part of a comprehensive Serbia-China partnership called \"Shared Future\", was announced in a joint press conference in Belgrade on Wednesday by Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and Chinese president Xi Jinping, who is visiting Europe for the first time in five years . \n\nVu\u010di\u0107\u00a0said the deal \"will guarantee a future\" for Serbia, cancelling tariffs on almost 95% of the country's exports to China within the next five to ten years, from \"apples to beef meat\". \n\nHis Chinese counterpart described their relationship as \"rock solid\" and growing \"from strength to strength\". \n\nThe announcement comes at a moment of heightened political tension between Beijing and the EU, amid allegations that China\u00a0 embedded a spy in the office of a far-right German MEP .\u00a0 \n\nBut it's also a slap in the face to Brussels, as the bloc\u00a0considers raising duties on Chinese electric vehicles from its current 10% to protect its domestic market. \n\nElectric cars are going to be at the heart of China's expansion strategy, but\u00a0Victor Gao, Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization, told Euronews Serbia that the ties between the two countries stretch well beyond that. \n\n\"China and Serbia share everything together, we see the world very much through similar lenses and we fully understand the need to respect each other, helping each other whenever necessary,\" he said. \n\n\"And then, if Serbia can also become a very important manufacturing centre for EV cars, it will accelerate this transformation from fuel cars to EV cars.\" \n\nGao also hints that recognising the island of Taiwan as part of China is fundamental to laying the ground for any good economic relationship with Beijing. \n\n\"The message is simple: if you treat China as an equal, we can cooperate. If you don't treat China as an equal, if you really want to badmouth China, to disrespect China, and to violate the One China Policy, then you don't get all these economic benefits.\" \n\nChina also shares deep ties with another European conservative leader, Hungarian PM\u00a0Viktor Orb\u00e1n, whose government has been trying to attract major investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and technology.\u00a0 \n\nXi will head to Hungary later on Wednesday until Friday for the last leg of his European trip. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>China and Serbia have announced they are implementing a new free trade agreement at the beginning of July,\u00a0deepening the economic and political ties between Belgrade and its biggest foreign investor.<\/p>\n<p>The deal, which is part of a comprehensive Serbia-China partnership called \"Shared Future\", was announced in a joint press conference in Belgrade on Wednesday by Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and Chinese president Xi Jinping, who is visiting Europe <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//05//07//macron-invites-chinese-leader-xi-to-visit-the-french-pyrenees/">for the first time in five years<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Vu\u010di\u0107\u00a0said the deal \"will guarantee a future\" for Serbia, cancelling tariffs on almost 95% of the country's exports to China within the next five to ten years, from \"apples to beef meat\".<\/p>\n<p>His Chinese counterpart described their relationship as \"rock solid\" and growing \"from strength to strength\".<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8419682\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//05//07//why-is-the-chinese-president-visiting-serbia-and-hungary/">Chinese President Xi visits Serbia and Hungary in bid to boost economic ties <\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The announcement comes at a moment of heightened political tension between Beijing and the EU, amid allegations that China\u00a0<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//05//07//police-search-offices-of-far-right-mep-over-chinese-espionage-allegations/">embedded a spy in the office of a far-right German MEP<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But it's also a slap in the face to Brussels, as the bloc\u00a0considers raising duties on Chinese electric vehicles from its current 10% to protect its domestic market.<\/p>\n<p>Electric cars are going to be at the heart of China's expansion strategy, but\u00a0Victor Gao, Vice President of the Center for China and Globalization, told Euronews Serbia that the ties between the two countries stretch well beyond that.<\/p>\n<p>\"China and Serbia share everything together, we see the world very much through similar lenses and we fully understand the need to respect each other, helping each other whenever necessary,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>\"And then, if Serbia can also become a very important manufacturing centre for EV cars, it will accelerate this transformation from fuel cars to EV cars.\"<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8420506\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//05//08//eu-china-relations-the-economic-challenges-yet-to-be-resolved/">EU-China relations: The economic challenges yet to be resolved<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Gao also hints that recognising the island of Taiwan as part of China is fundamental to laying the ground for any good economic relationship with Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>\"The message is simple: if you treat China as an equal, we can cooperate. If you don't treat China as an equal, if you really want to badmouth China, to disrespect China, and to violate the One China Policy, then you don't get all these economic benefits.\"<\/p>\n<p>China also shares deep ties with another European conservative leader, Hungarian PM\u00a0Viktor Orb\u00e1n, whose government has been trying to attract major investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Xi will head to Hungary later on Wednesday until Friday for the last leg of his European trip.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1715155855,"updatedAt":1715179329,"publishedAt":1715169754,"firstPublishedAt":1715169758,"lastPublishedAt":1715169754,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic","altText":"Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.","callToActionText":null,"width":7295,"caption":"Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/23\/66\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_20befd50-9f5d-5879-8ffa-0f3537a99b83-8422366.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":4106},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Bandic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/23\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_22b13dbf-e518-5ca9-a11e-99c708a36dac-8422376.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"dellanna","twitter":"alessiodellanna","title":"Alessio Dell'Anna"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"eu-china","titleRaw":"EU-China","id":99,"title":"EU-China","slug":"eu-china"},{"urlSafeValue":"one-china-policy","titleRaw":"One-China Policy","id":18094,"title":"One-China Policy","slug":"one-china-policy"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"hungary","titleRaw":"Hungary","id":143,"title":"Hungary","slug":"hungary"},{"urlSafeValue":"china","titleRaw":"China","id":311,"title":"China","slug":"china"}],"widgets":[{"count":2,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2537304},{"id":2536664},{"id":2536406}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"ao4MPz8SNS8","dailymotionId":"x8y7cew"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":137640,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":17786718,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/05\/08\/en\/240508_NWSU_55486971_55487006_137640_163628_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":137640,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":26494814,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/05\/08\/en\/240508_NWSU_55486971_55487006_137640_163628_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_science','gs_science_geography','gt_mixed','eu_brussels_politics_es','gt_negative_fear','gt_positive_curiosity'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2024\/05\/08\/china-signs-free-trade-agreement-with-serbia-as-it-expands-influence-in-europe","lastModified":1715169754},{"id":2537816,"cid":8421928,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240508_E3SU_55485614","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"XI ARRIVES IN SERBIA","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Xi kicks off Serbia visit by slamming 1999 NATO Chinese Embassy bombing","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Xi kicks off Serbia visit on Chinese Embassy bombing anniversary","titleListing2":"Chinese leader Xi arrives in Serbia on 25th anniversary of NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy","leadin":"The missile strike in Belgrade in 1999 \u2014 which Washington claimed was a mistake \u2014 took place during NATO's intervention over Kosovo.","summary":"The missile strike in Belgrade in 1999 \u2014 which Washington claimed was a mistake \u2014 took place during NATO's intervention over Kosovo.","keySentence":"","url":"chinese-leader-xi-arrives-in-serbia-on-25th-anniversary-of-natos-bombing-of-the-chinese-em","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2024\/05\/08\/chinese-leader-xi-arrives-in-serbia-on-25th-anniversary-of-natos-bombing-of-the-chinese-em","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Chinese leader Xi Jinping continued his European tour by visiting ally Serbia on Tuesday. \n\nThe trip falls on a symbolic date: the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during NATO's intervention over Kosovo. \n\nUS jets dropped five bombs on the Chinese Embassy compound in the Serbian capital on 7 May 1999. Three Chinese nationals were killed, and 20 others were injured.\u00a0 \n\nXi referenced the bombing directly in an op-ed published in Serbia\u2019s Politika newspaper on Tuesday, where he wrote, \u201cWe must not forget that 25 years ago today, NATO brazenly bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia,\u201d according to translations carried by Chinese state media. \n\n\u201cThe Chinese people value peace but will never allow historical tragedies to happen again,\" Xi added. \n\nThe Western military alliance had launched the air war in March of that year to force the Yugoslav strongman leader, Slobodan Milo\u0161evi\u0107, to end a brutal onslaught against ethnic Albanian rebels in Kosovo. \n\nThe US apologised at the time, blaming the bombing due to an intelligence mistake. Washington said that the intended target was the headquarters of a Serbian state arms exporter located on the same street.\u00a0 \n\nRelations between China and Serbia have grown closer as a result of the incident, with China emerging as Serbia's largest provider of foreign direct investment and its second-largest trading partner after the European Union itself.\u00a0 \n\nSerbia has been an ally of Beijing, opening its doors to Chinese investment despite the EU's distaste.\u00a0 \n\nXi arrived from France and will next travel to Hungary for his first European tour in five years. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Chinese leader Xi Jinping continued his European tour by visiting ally Serbia on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>The trip falls on a symbolic date: the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during NATO's intervention over Kosovo.<\/p>\n<p>US jets dropped five bombs on the Chinese Embassy compound in the Serbian capital on 7 May 1999. Three Chinese nationals were killed, and 20 others were injured.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Xi referenced the bombing directly in an op-ed published in Serbia\u2019s Politika newspaper on Tuesday, where he wrote, \u201cWe must not forget that 25 years ago today, NATO brazenly bombed the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia,\u201d according to translations carried by Chinese state media.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Chinese people value peace but will never allow historical tragedies to happen again,\" Xi added.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//42//19//28//808x539_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg/" alt=\"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, center right, welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and his wife Peng Liyuan in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/384x256_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/640x427_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/750x500_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/828x552_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/1080x720_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/1200x800_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/1920x1281_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, center right, welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and his wife Peng Liyuan in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP\/AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Western military alliance had launched the air war in March of that year to force the Yugoslav strongman leader, Slobodan Milo\u0161evi\u0107, to end a brutal onslaught against ethnic Albanian rebels in Kosovo.<\/p>\n<p>The US apologised at the time, blaming the bombing due to an intelligence mistake. Washington said that the intended target was the headquarters of a Serbian state arms exporter located on the same street.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Relations between China and Serbia have grown closer as a result of the incident, with China emerging as Serbia's largest provider of foreign direct investment and its second-largest trading partner after the European Union itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8419682,8419436\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//05//07//why-is-the-chinese-president-visiting-serbia-and-hungary/">Chinese President Xi visits Serbia and Hungary in bid to boost economic ties <\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//05//07//xi-jinping-calls-for-global-cessation-of-war-during-paris-olympics/">Xi Jinping calls for global 'cessation of war' during Paris Olympics<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Serbia has been an ally of Beijing, opening its doors to Chinese investment despite the EU's distaste.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Xi arrived from France and will next travel to Hungary for his first European tour in five years.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1715144885,"updatedAt":1715167986,"publishedAt":1715150512,"firstPublishedAt":1715150516,"lastPublishedAt":1715150512,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP\/AP","altText":"Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and his wife Peng Liyuan wave during a welcome ceremony upon arrival at the Nikola Tesla airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and his wife Peng Liyuan wave during a welcome ceremony upon arrival at the Nikola Tesla airport in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6297bc3f-7bc7-5e7e-8436-7c432ae9d103-8421928.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP\/AP","altText":"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, center right, welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and his wife Peng Liyuan in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, center right, welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and his wife Peng Liyuan in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/42\/19\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_083debe1-fd3d-5747-865d-60cedaa9ecb0-8421928.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"aleksandar-vucic","titleRaw":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","id":13964,"title":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"},{"urlSafeValue":"xi-jinping","titleRaw":"Xi Jinping","id":11408,"title":"Xi Jinping","slug":"xi-jinping"},{"urlSafeValue":"china","titleRaw":"China","id":311,"title":"China","slug":"china"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"emmanuel-macron","titleRaw":"Emmanuel Macron","id":12357,"title":"Emmanuel Macron","slug":"emmanuel-macron"},{"urlSafeValue":"foreign-policy","titleRaw":"Foreign policy","id":4192,"title":"Foreign 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5 SERBIA ANNIVERSARY SHOOTING","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"One year on: Serbia marks anniversary of tragic school shooting","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Serbia mourns: vigil for victims of historic school shooting","titleListing2":"One year on: Serbia marks anniversary of tragic school shooting","leadin":"Hundreds of people laid flowers and lit candles on Friday to commemorate the victims of Serbia's first-ever school shooting a year ago on May 3.","summary":"Hundreds of people laid flowers and lit candles on Friday to commemorate the victims of Serbia's first-ever school shooting a year ago on May 3.","keySentence":"","url":"one-year-on-serbia-marks-anniversary-of-tragic-school-shooting","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/05\/03\/one-year-on-serbia-marks-anniversary-of-tragic-school-shooting","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Vigil started at 8:41 am, at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in central Belgrade. The whole country was traumatised by this event that left nine children and a school guard dead and six people wounded, as it was the first school shooting in this Balkan country. \n\nAleksandar Baucal, a psychology professor, says, \u201cThis type of tragedy has a traumatic effect on everyone that has any connection with that school. The children, the parents and families of those who currently go to that particular school, are also the victims of this tragedy.\u201d \n\nThe event was titled \u201cAwakening,\u201d a call for introspection in a nation that is yet to come to terms with its role in multiple wars in the 1990s and the culture of violence that has prevailed ever since. \n\nThe slain children\u2019s parents have fought to have the school closed and turned into a memorial centre. \n\nThe two minors allegedly involved in the school shooting were charged along with their parents. The trial of one of them and his father is scheduled to take place later in May in the central town of Smederevo \n\nShock and anger because of the shootings triggered months of street protests demanding the resignations of top officials and a ban on media that spew hate speech and intolerance. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Vigil started at 8:41 am, at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in central Belgrade. The whole country was traumatised by this event that left nine children and a school guard dead and six people wounded, as it was the first school shooting in this Balkan country.<\/p>\n<p>Aleksandar Baucal, a psychology professor, says, \u201cThis type of tragedy has a traumatic effect on everyone that has any connection with that school. The children, the parents and families of those who currently go to that particular school, are also the victims of this tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The event was titled \u201cAwakening,\u201d a call for introspection in a nation that is yet to come to terms with its role in multiple wars in the 1990s and the culture of violence that has prevailed ever since.<\/p>\n<p>The slain children\u2019s parents have fought to have the school closed and turned into a memorial centre.<\/p>\n<p>The two minors allegedly involved in the school shooting were charged along with their parents. The trial of one of them and his father is scheduled to take place later in May in the central town of Smederevo<\/p>\n<p>Shock and anger because of the shootings triggered months of street protests demanding the resignations of top officials and a ban on media that spew hate speech and intolerance.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1714735439,"updatedAt":1716115688,"publishedAt":1714746225,"firstPublishedAt":1714746233,"lastPublishedAt":1714746225,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"People gather in front of the Vladislav Ribnikar school during a memorial ceremony to mark the first anniversary of a shooting ","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"People gather in front of the Vladislav Ribnikar school during a memorial ceremony to mark the first anniversary of a shooting ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/41\/41\/92\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8744f0d2-0dbb-58c8-8afc-df711302d971-8414192.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"vitis","twitter":null,"title":"Vincent Vitis"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"urlSafeValue":"adhem","twitter":null,"title":"Joanna Adhem"}]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"tribute","titleRaw":"Tribute","id":12047,"title":"Tribute","slug":"tribute"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"school-violence","titleRaw":"school violence","id":21668,"title":"school 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WEAPONS BUILDUP","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbian military drill ramps up as relations with Kosovo deteriorate","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Final exercise to take place in Pester on the border with Kosovo","titleListing2":"Serbian military drill ramps up as relations with Kosovo deteriorate","leadin":"Tensions in the Balkans have been rising since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with decades-old peacekeeping structures under intense pressure.","summary":"Tensions in the Balkans have been rising since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with decades-old peacekeeping structures under intense pressure.","keySentence":"","url":"serbian-military-drill-ramps-up-as-relations-with-kosovo-deteriorate","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/04\/18\/serbian-military-drill-ramps-up-as-relations-with-kosovo-deteriorate","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"As many as 2,000 Serbian soldiers are preparing for the final days of a major drill near the country's border with Kosovo. \n\nThe drill, codenamed Vihor, comes after Serbian defence minister Milo\u0161 Vu\u010devi\u0107 said Belgrade was ''not a punching bag\" and that \"no one will humiliate us''. \n\nTensions in the Balkans have been high for some times,\u00a0with the war in Ukraine exacerbating distrust and triggering a regional arms race.\u00a0A new flashpoint came earlier this week when the Council of Europe recommended that Kosovo\u00a0become a member. A full 131 members voted for Kosovo\u2019s accession, with just 29 voting against and 11 abstaining. \n\nVu\u010devi\u0107 responded furiously to the decision, saying ''their shame for all that they are doing around the Council of Europe and the UN will last forever''. \n\nArming up \n\nVihor was ordered by Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 with the aim of improving the Serbian Armed Forces' ability to solve tactical and fire tasks during the preparation and execution of combat operations. The exercise has involved more than 2,000 army personnel, hundreds of weapons, drones and anti-aircraft defence systems. \n\nThe prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, announced in response to the drill that his country's security forces and defences are being enhanced. \n\n''We responded by doubling the military budget and tripling the armament budget,\" he said. \"We bought Bairaktar drones and Javelin anti-tank missiles, while there are 1,852 new soldiers in the barracks, which will be joined by 600 new recruits this year.\" \n\nKosovo is a mainly ethnic Albanian-populated territory that was formerly a province of Serbia. It declared independence in 2008. \n\nKosovo\u2019s independence is recognised by about 100 countries including the US, but the Belgrade government still considers the country part of Serbia, even though it has no formal control there. \n\nThe EU and the US have been trying to normalise ties between Serbia and Kosovo for years, but tempers flared again last year after clashes between police and local Serbs in northern Kosovo. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>As many as 2,000 Serbian soldiers are preparing for the final days of a major drill near the country's border with Kosovo.<\/p>\n<p>The drill, codenamed Vihor, comes after Serbian defence minister Milo\u0161 Vu\u010devi\u0107 said Belgrade was ''not a punching bag\" and that \"no one will humiliate us''.<\/p>\n<p>Tensions in the Balkans have been high for some times,\u00a0with the war in Ukraine exacerbating distrust and triggering a regional arms race.\u00a0A new flashpoint came earlier this week when the Council of Europe recommended that Kosovo\u00a0become a member. A full 131 members voted for Kosovo\u2019s accession, with just 29 voting against and 11 abstaining.<\/p>\n<p>Vu\u010devi\u0107 responded furiously to the decision, saying ''their shame for all that they are doing around the Council of Europe and the UN will last forever''.<\/p>\n<h2>Arming up<\/h2><p>Vihor was ordered by Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 with the aim of improving the Serbian Armed Forces' ability to solve tactical and fire tasks during the preparation and execution of combat operations. The exercise has involved more than 2,000 army personnel, hundreds of weapons, drones and anti-aircraft defence systems.<\/p>\n<p>The prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, announced in response to the drill that his country's security forces and defences are being enhanced.<\/p>\n<p>''We responded by doubling the military budget and tripling the armament budget,\" he said. \"We bought Bairaktar drones and Javelin anti-tank missiles, while there are 1,852 new soldiers in the barracks, which will be joined by 600 new recruits this year.\"<\/p>\n<p>Kosovo is a mainly ethnic Albanian-populated territory that was formerly a province of Serbia. It declared independence in 2008.<\/p>\n<p>Kosovo\u2019s independence is recognised by about 100 countries including the US, but the Belgrade government still considers the country part of Serbia, even though it has no formal control there.<\/p>\n<p>The EU and the US have been trying to normalise ties between Serbia and Kosovo for years, but tempers flared again last year after clashes between police and local Serbs in northern Kosovo.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1713430584,"updatedAt":1713456738,"publishedAt":1713450894,"firstPublishedAt":1713450898,"lastPublishedAt":1713452123,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/AP","altText":"A huge billboard that shows Serbian soldiers and reads: \"We serve Serbia!\" displayed on the former Serbian army headquarters","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"A huge billboard that shows Serbian soldiers and reads: \"We serve Serbia!\" displayed on the former Serbian army headquarters","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/38\/14\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c60bc331-74f0-56fe-b4b3-fda0bf6b3813-8381424.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":"2,000 Serbian troops are participating in military exercise Vihor in the Haut plateau of Pester near the border with Kosovo.","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"2,000 Serbian troops are participating in military exercise Vihor in the Haut plateau of Pester near the border with Kosovo.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/38\/14\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_abfd34fc-8d7d-50c5-a9db-8be0f3870e88-8381424.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews 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News","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_military','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_science','gs_science_geography'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2024\/04\/18\/serbian-military-drill-ramps-up-as-relations-with-kosovo-deteriorate","lastModified":1713452123},{"id":2514614,"cid":8352622,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240405_NWSU_55219761","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"SERBIA TODDLER MURDER","channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbia police arrest 2 men accused of hitting 2-year-old girl with car and dumping her body","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Serbia: Two men held for hitting toddler with car and dumping her body","titleListing2":"Serbia police arrest 2 men accused of hitting 2-year-old girl with car and dumping her body","leadin":"Serbian authorities continue to search for the body of the toddler Danka Ilic, who was reported missing last month.","summary":"Serbian authorities continue to search for the body of the toddler Danka Ilic, who was reported missing last month.","keySentence":"","url":"serbia-police-arrest-2-men-accused-of-hitting-2-year-old-girl-with-car-and-dumping-her-bod","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/04\/05\/serbia-police-arrest-2-men-accused-of-hitting-2-year-old-girl-with-car-and-dumping-her-bod","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A 2-year-old Serbian girl whose disappearance last month gripped the nation died after being hit by a car and her body was dumped in a landfill by the people in the vehicle, police said on Thursday. \n\nPolice have arrested two men suspected of hitting Danka Ilic with their vehicle when she walked out of a yard in the eastern town of Bor, Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic said. \n\nThe two suspects are employees of the local state waterworks company and were on assignment when they hit the girl with their car, Gasic said. \n\nAccording to the statement, the suspects picked up the girl\u2019s body, placed it in the trunk where they kept their tools and drove to a landfill where they dumped the body. They are facing charges of grave murder. \n\nThe suspects admitted committing the crime, polic e said in a statement. \n\nThe girl was first reported missing on March 26, prompting police to launch a national appeal for assistance and circulate her photograph. \n\n\u201cThe girl\u2019s father stopped them in his car and asked if they saw the girl, and they said no,\u201d Gasic said. \u201cOne of the men later even joined the search,\u201d he added. \n\nAuthorities continue to search for the girl's body. Gasic mentioned that the men likely relocated it to a different area. \n\nHundreds of disappearances are reported annually in Serbia, including children who run away from their homes and abductions. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>A 2-year-old Serbian girl whose disappearance last month gripped the nation died after being hit by a car and her body was dumped in a landfill by the people in the vehicle, police said on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Police have arrested two men suspected of hitting Danka Ilic with their vehicle when she walked out of a yard in the eastern town of Bor, Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic said.<\/p>\n<p>The two suspects are employees of the local state waterworks company and were on assignment when they hit the girl with their car, Gasic said.<\/p>\n<p>According to the statement, the suspects picked up the girl\u2019s body, placed it in the trunk where they kept their tools and drove to a landfill where they dumped the body. They are facing charges of grave murder.<\/p>\n<p>The suspects admitted committing the crime, police said in a statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6668905305574211\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//35//26//22//808x539_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg/" alt=\"Serbian Police Rescue team search a forest near Bor, Serbia, Friday, March 29, 2024.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/384x256_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/640x427_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/750x500_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/828x552_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/1080x720_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/1200x800_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/1920x1280_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Serbian Police Rescue team search a forest near Bor, Serbia, Friday, March 29, 2024.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Serbian Ministry of Interior via AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The girl was first reported missing on March 26, prompting police to launch a national appeal for assistance and circulate her photograph.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe girl\u2019s father stopped them in his car and asked if they saw the girl, and they said no,\u201d Gasic said. \u201cOne of the men later even joined the search,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities continue to search for the girl's body. Gasic mentioned that the men likely relocated it to a different area.<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of disappearances are reported annually in Serbia, including children who run away from their homes and abductions.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1712272013,"updatedAt":1712332444,"publishedAt":1712293352,"firstPublishedAt":1712293356,"lastPublishedAt":1712293356,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Serbian Ministry of Interior via AP","altText":"Serbian Police Rescue team search a forest near Bor, Serbia, Friday, March 29, 2024. ","callToActionText":null,"width":2937,"caption":"Serbian Police Rescue team search a forest near Bor, Serbia, Friday, March 29, 2024. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_dabebef3-19f0-5f5a-b8f1-14f715ca9084-8352622.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1652},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Serbian Ministry of Interior via AP","altText":"Serbian Police Rescue team search a forest near Bor, Serbia, Friday, March 29, 2024. ","callToActionText":null,"width":2978,"caption":"Serbian Police Rescue team search a forest near Bor, Serbia, Friday, March 29, 2024. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/35\/26\/22\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7cdf7e38-f4f5-5e17-ad3a-968479244942-8352622.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1986}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"child","titleRaw":"Child","id":27100,"title":"Child","slug":"child"},{"urlSafeValue":"murder","titleRaw":"Murder","id":12056,"title":"Murder","slug":"murder"},{"urlSafeValue":"kaybolma","titleRaw":"missing","id":15912,"title":"missing","slug":"kaybolma"},{"urlSafeValue":"police","titleRaw":"Police","id":11642,"title":"Police","slug":"police"},{"urlSafeValue":"arrest","titleRaw":"Arrest","id":8199,"title":"Arrest","slug":"arrest"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"}],"related":[{"id":2512300},{"id":2508998},{"id":2515424}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8wcu4q","youtubeId":"QXvNJm2rfU0"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":7860471,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/04\/05\/en\/240405_NWSU_55219761_55225670_60000_163241_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":11879159,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/04\/05\/en\/240405_NWSU_55219761_55225670_60000_163241_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gb_safe_from_high','gb_crime_high_med','gb_crime_high_med_low','gb_crime_news-ent','gt_negative','gv_crime','gs_law','gs_law_misc','gb_crime_edu','gs_popculture','gs_popculture_celebhome','gs_realestate'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"path":"\/2024\/04\/05\/serbia-police-arrest-2-men-accused-of-hitting-2-year-old-girl-with-car-and-dumping-her-bod","lastModified":1712293356},{"id":2506460,"cid":8326976,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240325_NWSU_55127041","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbia marks the 25th anniversary of NATO bombing of Yugoslavia","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Serbia marks the 25th anniversary of NATO bombing","titleListing2":"Serbia marks the 25th anniversary of NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.","leadin":"Serbia marks the 25th anniversary of NATO bombing of what was then Yugoslavia.","summary":"Serbia marks the 25th anniversary of NATO bombing of what was then Yugoslavia.","keySentence":"","url":"serbia-marks-the-25th-anniversary-of-nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/03\/25\/serbia-marks-the-25th-anniversary-of-nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"On Sunday, demonstrators gathered in Belgrade to commemorate the 25th anniversary of NATO's aerial bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999. The gathering took place outside the former army headquarters, which bore the scars of the bombardment that halted Serbia\u2019s crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists, ending Belgrade\u2019s control over its former province of Kosovo. \n\nThe protesters waved Serbian and Russian flags, paying tribute with a minute of silence for the victims of the Moscow concert hall attack. Among the flags, a distinctive 'Z' could be seen, symbolising solidarity with the Russian military. \n\nAccording to rights groups, the NATO bombing claimed the lives of several hundred people, although Serbia says that the casualty count was significantly higher. Additionally, the bombing inflicted severe damage on Serbia's infrastructure. \n\nSince the conflict, Serbia's leadership has remained committed to staying out of NATO and has declined to join Western sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>On Sunday, demonstrators gathered in Belgrade to commemorate the 25th anniversary of NATO's aerial bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999. The gathering took place outside the former army headquarters, which bore the scars of the bombardment that halted Serbia\u2019s crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists, ending Belgrade\u2019s control over its former province of Kosovo.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-euronews\nwidget--size-fullwidth\nwidget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"auto widget__ratio widget__ratio--16x9\">\n <iframe type=\"text\/html\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//embed//2499528/" width=\"100%\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen seamless>\n <\/iframe>\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The protesters waved Serbian and Russian flags, paying tribute with a minute of silence for the victims of the Moscow concert hall attack. Among the flags, a distinctive 'Z' could be seen, symbolising solidarity with the Russian military.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8283114\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//03//04//claims-of-eroded-democracy-threaten-serbias-eu-relations-and-economic-growth/">Claims of eroded democracy threaten Serbia's EU relations and economic growth<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>According to rights groups, the NATO bombing claimed the lives of several hundred people, although Serbia says that the casualty count was significantly higher. Additionally, the bombing inflicted severe damage on Serbia's infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>Since the conflict, Serbia's leadership has remained committed to staying out of NATO and has declined to join Western sanctions against Russia over its actions in Ukraine.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1711321348,"updatedAt":1711371784,"publishedAt":1711371341,"firstPublishedAt":1711371344,"lastPublishedAt":1711371344,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"People during a demonstration in front of the former Serbian Army headquarters, destroyed during NATO bombing, in Serbia, March 3. 24, 2024.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"People during a demonstration in front of the former Serbian Army headquarters, destroyed during NATO bombing, in Serbia, March 3. 24, 2024.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/32\/69\/86\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6c18763c-84f5-532b-a791-f6249ddb9daf-8326986.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"russia","titleRaw":"Russia","id":239,"title":"Russia","slug":"russia"},{"urlSafeValue":"nato","titleRaw":"NATO","id":205,"title":"NATO","slug":"nato"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"euronews"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2503688},{"id":2505224},{"id":2507202}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8vme5e","youtubeId":"bX4mFCWL40k"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":7690569,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/03\/25\/en\/240325_NWSU_55127041_55131176_60000_130039_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":11336009,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/03\/25\/en\/240325_NWSU_55127041_55131176_60000_130039_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world 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NATO BOMBINGS ANNIVERSARY","path":"\/2024\/03\/25\/serbia-marks-the-25th-anniversary-of-nato-bombing-of-yugoslavia","lastModified":1711371344},{"id":2494924,"cid":8291942,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240307_TCSU_54994197","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbia\u2019s national parks are a nature lover\u2019s dream: Where to go for vineyards, hiking and history","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"How to explore Serbia\u2019s untouched national parks this summer","titleListing2":"Serbia\u2019s national parks are a nature lover\u2019s dream: Where to go for vineyards, hiking and history","leadin":"With ravines, ski slopes and wildlife-rich forests, Serbia\u2019s national parks have plenty to offer the adventurous visitor.","summary":"With ravines, ski slopes and wildlife-rich forests, Serbia\u2019s national parks have plenty to offer the adventurous visitor.","keySentence":"","url":"serbias-national-parks-are-a-nature-lovers-dream-where-to-go-for-vineyards-hiking-and-hist","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2024\/03\/09\/serbias-national-parks-are-a-nature-lovers-dream-where-to-go-for-vineyards-hiking-and-hist","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Landlocked in the heart of the Balkans, Serbia is the crossroads of different cultures and historical influences, making it a unique and diverse travel destination. \n\nHere, you'll find a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty alongside its dynamic capital city, Belgrade, which has plenty of UNESCO sites and national parks to discover. \n\nSerbia has typically been off the tourist radar, but with ongoing investment into tourism infrastructure and new hotel and resort openings, the country is poised to attract more visitors to its capital and wild landscapes. \n\nThe gritty, nightlife-packed capital of Belgrade is an obvious starting point for international visitors. However, the National Tourism Organisation hopes to entice travellers away from the capital and direct them to the country\u2019s many ski slopes, national parks, and UNESCO sites. \n\nWhat is there to do in Serbia? \n\nMarija Labovic, CEO of the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia, says that despite a wealth of natural and historic offerings, international travellers rarely venture beyond Serbia's capital, Belgrade. \n\n\"We are a destination with a variety of tourism products,\" Labovic adds. \"Top of our list would be nature-based vacations.\" \n\nSerbia's natural landscapes are undeniably impressive, with deep gorges, jagged mountains, pristine rivers, and lush forests. \n\nTara National Park, in western Serbia, is a must-visit for outdoor adventures, offering hiking trails, waterfalls, and dreamy views of the Drina River Canyon. \n\nKopaonik National Park, in the central part of the country, is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding in the winter months and hiking and mountain biking during the summer. \n\nNear Belgrade, the Fru\u0161ka Gora National Park provides a serene escape from city life and is known for its leafy vineyards and centuries-old monasteries. \n\nHere's our guide to Serbia's five national parks, where you can traverse unspoiled natural landscapes and hike, swim, and ski as the seasons change. \n\nTara National Park \n\nSpanning 220 sq km kingdom of untouched nature, Tara National Park is a haven for biodiversity and outdoor adventure in western Serbia. \n\nHome to mountain slopes, dense forests, deep gorges, and the winding Drina River, Tara is popular with hikers, wildlife lovers and photographers. \n\nAlong with scenic lookout points and authentic 'Ethno villages', Tara has over 20 marked hiking and mountaineering trails that take you through various landscapes. \n\nStart your exploration at Banjska Stena, a dramatic viewpoint offering panoramic vistas of the Drina River Canyon below. \n\nFrom here, hike the Banjska Stena Trail, which winds through ancient beech and fir forests, past cascading waterfalls, and alongside crystal-clear streams. \n\nYou can also enjoy cycling in the Tara National Park. The \"Tarocikl\" (Tarocycle) project offers hundreds of bicycle paths, from flower-filled meadows to mountains and canyons. \n\nFor an adrenaline rush, book a rafting experience on the tumbling waters of the Drina River Canyon, the second-deepest canyon in Europe. \n\nFru\u0161ka Gora National Park: For wildlife, vineyards, and monasteries \n\nNear Serbia's nightlife-packed capital, Belgrade, the Fru\u0161ka Gora National Park provides an escape from the dense urban centre. \n\nOnce an island in the Pannonian Sea, Serbia's first national park is known for wildlife, lush vineyards, and monasteries. \n\nExplore the park's network of hiking trails, which lead to hidden monasteries, scenic viewpoints, and ancient ruins dating back to Roman times. \n\nDon't miss the opportunity to sample local wines at one of Fru\u0161ka Gora's many wineries, where you can learn more about the region's rich viticultural heritage. \n\nTo explore the park's religious history, visit the Krusedol Monastery, a 16th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery. Admire its frescoes, stroll through its peaceful gardens, and soak in the spiritual atmosphere that permeates this remarkable site. \n\n\u0110erdap National Park: For river rafting, history and boat tours \n\nStretching along the Danube River, \u0110erdap National Park is a beautiful landscape of gorges, ravines and ancient fortresses. \n\nAt 636 sq km, it's the biggest national park in Serbia. Its namesake, the \u0110erdap Gorge, is one of the largest gorges in Europe and has plenty of outdoor activities for visitors. \n\nBegin by exploring the Golubac Fortress, a medieval stronghold perched atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube. Wander through its labyrinthine corridors, climb its towering battlements, and imagine the battles that once raged within its walls. \n\nFor a closer look at \u0110erdap's natural wonders, book a boat tour of the Iron Gate, a series of imposing gorges and rock formations carved by the Danube over millennia. \n\nLook up at the sheer cliffs that rise hundreds of metres above the river, and watch for rare bird species and wildlife in this pristine wilderness. \n\nKopaonik National Park: For skiing, hiking and wildlife \n\nLocated in the heart of Serbia, Kopaonik National Park is the country's biggest mountain range and one of the best places to ski. \n\nWith its snow-capped peaks, dense forests, and alpine meadows, Kopaonik offers many year-round outdoor activities, from skiing and snowboarding to hiking and mountain biking. \n\nHit the slopes at Kopaonik Ski Resort, where impressive ski runs cater to all skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned pro or hitting the snow for the first time, Kopaonik's thrilling pistes are a must-visit. \n\nThe park transforms into a hiker's paradise during the summer, with a network of trails leading to panoramic viewpoints, cascading waterfalls, and serene mountain lakes. \n\nLook for rare plant and animal species, including lynx, wolves, and golden eagles, inhabiting the park's diverse ecosystems. \n\nThe \u0160ar Mountain National Park: For cultural heritage, wildlife and mountains \n\nThe \u0160ar Mountain National Park encompasses a vast expanse of wilderness and forms a natural border between Macedonia and Serbia. \n\nPacked with raw beauty, the park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, with over 1,500 plant species and elusive wildlife inhabiting its diverse habitats. Look out for brown bears, eagles and over 147 butterfly species. \n\nIn addition to its mountainous landscapes, \u0160ar Mountain features plenty of history and culture. The region has been inhabited for thousands of years, with evidence of human settlement dating back to ancient times. \n\nThroughout the park, you can spot medieval Orthodox churches, monasteries, fortifications, and traditional villages that offer insights into the area's rich cultural heritage. It's easy to see why this historically significant area has been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Site programme. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Landlocked in the heart of the Balkans, Serbia is the crossroads of different cultures and historical influences, making it a unique and diverse travel destination.<\/p>\n<p>Here, you'll find a blend of history, culture, and natural beauty alongside its dynamic capital city, Belgrade, which has plenty of UNESCO sites and national parks to discover.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia has typically been off the tourist radar, but with ongoing investment into tourism infrastructure and new hotel and resort openings, the country is poised to attract more visitors to its capital and wild landscapes.<\/p>\n<p>The gritty, nightlife-packed capital of Belgrade is an obvious starting point for international visitors. However, the National Tourism Organisation hopes to entice travellers away from the capital and direct them to the country\u2019s many ski slopes, national parks, and UNESCO sites.<\/p>\n<h2>What is there to do in Serbia?<\/h2><div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//29//19//42//808x539_cmsv2_c2beddcc-3ac3-539a-bdbc-ecfcb50fda20-8291942.jpg/" alt=\"The gritty, nightlife-packed capital of Belgrade is an obvious starting point for international visitors.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/384x256_cmsv2_c2beddcc-3ac3-539a-bdbc-ecfcb50fda20-8291942.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/640x427_cmsv2_c2beddcc-3ac3-539a-bdbc-ecfcb50fda20-8291942.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/750x500_cmsv2_c2beddcc-3ac3-539a-bdbc-ecfcb50fda20-8291942.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/828x552_cmsv2_c2beddcc-3ac3-539a-bdbc-ecfcb50fda20-8291942.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1080x720_cmsv2_c2beddcc-3ac3-539a-bdbc-ecfcb50fda20-8291942.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1200x800_cmsv2_c2beddcc-3ac3-539a-bdbc-ecfcb50fda20-8291942.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1920x1281_cmsv2_c2beddcc-3ac3-539a-bdbc-ecfcb50fda20-8291942.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The gritty, nightlife-packed capital of Belgrade is an obvious starting point for international visitors.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Canva<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Marija Labovic, CEO of the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia, says that despite a wealth of natural and historic offerings, international travellers rarely venture beyond Serbia's capital, Belgrade.<\/p>\n<p>\"We are a destination with a variety of tourism products,\" Labovic adds. \"Top of our list would be nature-based vacations.\"<\/p>\n<p>Serbia's natural landscapes are undeniably impressive, with deep gorges, jagged mountains, pristine rivers, and lush forests.<\/p>\n<p>Tara National Park, in western Serbia, is a must-visit for outdoor adventures, offering hiking trails, waterfalls, and dreamy views of the Drina River Canyon.<\/p>\n<p>Kopaonik National Park, in the central part of the country, is a popular destination for skiing and snowboarding in the winter months and hiking and mountain biking during the summer.<\/p>\n<p>Near Belgrade, the Fru\u0161ka Gora National Park provides a serene escape from city life and is known for its leafy vineyards and centuries-old monasteries.<\/p>\n<p>Here's our guide to Serbia's five national parks, where you can traverse unspoiled natural landscapes and hike, swim, and ski as the seasons change.<\/p>\n<h2>Tara National Park<\/h2><div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//29//19//42//808x539_cmsv2_4349eab3-a1fe-59d7-a61d-c088ab04b5d8-8291942.jpg/" alt=\"Tara National Park is a haven for biodiversity and outdoor adventure in western Serbia.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/384x256_cmsv2_4349eab3-a1fe-59d7-a61d-c088ab04b5d8-8291942.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/640x427_cmsv2_4349eab3-a1fe-59d7-a61d-c088ab04b5d8-8291942.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/750x500_cmsv2_4349eab3-a1fe-59d7-a61d-c088ab04b5d8-8291942.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/828x552_cmsv2_4349eab3-a1fe-59d7-a61d-c088ab04b5d8-8291942.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1080x720_cmsv2_4349eab3-a1fe-59d7-a61d-c088ab04b5d8-8291942.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1200x800_cmsv2_4349eab3-a1fe-59d7-a61d-c088ab04b5d8-8291942.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1920x1281_cmsv2_4349eab3-a1fe-59d7-a61d-c088ab04b5d8-8291942.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Tara National Park is a haven for biodiversity and outdoor adventure in western Serbia.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Canva<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Spanning 220 sq km kingdom of untouched nature, Tara National Park is a haven for biodiversity and outdoor adventure in western Serbia.<\/p>\n<p>Home to mountain slopes, dense forests, deep gorges, and the winding Drina River, Tara is popular with hikers, wildlife lovers and photographers.<\/p>\n<p>Along with scenic lookout points and authentic 'Ethno villages', Tara has over 20 marked hiking and mountaineering trails that take you through various landscapes.<\/p>\n<p>Start your exploration at Banjska Stena, a dramatic viewpoint offering panoramic vistas of the Drina River Canyon below.<\/p>\n<p>From here, hike the Banjska Stena Trail, which winds through ancient beech and fir forests, past cascading waterfalls, and alongside crystal-clear streams.<\/p>\n<p>You can also enjoy cycling in the Tara National Park. The \"Tarocikl\" (Tarocycle) project offers hundreds of bicycle paths, from flower-filled meadows to mountains and canyons.<\/p>\n<p>For an adrenaline rush, book a rafting experience on the tumbling waters of the Drina River Canyon, the second-deepest canyon in Europe.<\/p>\n<h2>Fru\u0161ka Gora National Park: For wildlife, vineyards, and monasteries<\/h2><p>Near Serbia's nightlife-packed capital, Belgrade, the Fru\u0161ka Gora National Park provides an escape from the dense urban centre.<\/p>\n<p>Once an island in the Pannonian Sea, Serbia's first national park is known for wildlife, lush vineyards, and monasteries.<\/p>\n<p>Explore the park's network of hiking trails, which lead to hidden monasteries, scenic viewpoints, and ancient ruins dating back to Roman times.<\/p>\n<p>Don't miss the opportunity to sample local wines at one of Fru\u0161ka Gora's many wineries, where you can learn more about the region's rich viticultural heritage.<\/p>\n<p>To explore the park's religious history, visit the Krusedol Monastery, a 16th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery. Admire its frescoes, stroll through its peaceful gardens, and soak in the spiritual atmosphere that permeates this remarkable site.<\/p>\n<h2>\u0110erdap National Park: For river rafting, history and boat tours<\/h2><p>Stretching along the Danube River, \u0110erdap National Park is a beautiful landscape of gorges, ravines and ancient fortresses.<\/p>\n<p>At 636 sq km, it's the biggest national park in Serbia. Its namesake, the \u0110erdap Gorge, is one of the largest gorges in Europe and has plenty of outdoor activities for visitors.<\/p>\n<p>Begin by exploring the Golubac Fortress, a medieval stronghold perched atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the Danube. Wander through its labyrinthine corridors, climb its towering battlements, and imagine the battles that once raged within its walls.<\/p>\n<p>For a closer look at \u0110erdap's natural wonders, book a boat tour of the Iron Gate, a series of imposing gorges and rock formations carved by the Danube over millennia.<\/p>\n<p>Look up at the sheer cliffs that rise hundreds of metres above the river, and watch for rare bird species and wildlife in this pristine wilderness.<\/p>\n<h2>Kopaonik National Park: For skiing, hiking and wildlife<\/h2><div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//29//19//42//808x539_cmsv2_3b1c6fa7-89e7-5023-8829-a61cb9549c03-8291942.jpg/" alt=\"The Brown Bear is the largest carnivore in Serbia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/384x256_cmsv2_3b1c6fa7-89e7-5023-8829-a61cb9549c03-8291942.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/640x427_cmsv2_3b1c6fa7-89e7-5023-8829-a61cb9549c03-8291942.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/750x500_cmsv2_3b1c6fa7-89e7-5023-8829-a61cb9549c03-8291942.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/828x552_cmsv2_3b1c6fa7-89e7-5023-8829-a61cb9549c03-8291942.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1080x720_cmsv2_3b1c6fa7-89e7-5023-8829-a61cb9549c03-8291942.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1200x800_cmsv2_3b1c6fa7-89e7-5023-8829-a61cb9549c03-8291942.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/1920x1281_cmsv2_3b1c6fa7-89e7-5023-8829-a61cb9549c03-8291942.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The Brown Bear is the largest carnivore in Serbia<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Canva<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Located in the heart of Serbia, Kopaonik National Park is the country's biggest mountain range and one of the best places to ski.<\/p>\n<p>With its snow-capped peaks, dense forests, and alpine meadows, Kopaonik offers many year-round outdoor activities, from skiing and snowboarding to hiking and mountain biking.<\/p>\n<p>Hit the slopes at Kopaonik Ski Resort, where impressive ski runs cater to all skill levels. Whether you're a seasoned pro or hitting the snow for the first time, Kopaonik's thrilling pistes are a must-visit.<\/p>\n<p>The park transforms into a hiker's paradise during the summer, with a network of trails leading to panoramic viewpoints, cascading waterfalls, and serene mountain lakes.<\/p>\n<p>Look for rare plant and animal species, including lynx, wolves, and golden eagles, inhabiting the park's diverse ecosystems.<\/p>\n<h2>The \u0160ar Mountain National Park: For cultural heritage, wildlife and mountains<\/h2><p>The \u0160ar Mountain National Park encompasses a vast expanse of wilderness and forms a natural border between Macedonia and Serbia.<\/p>\n<p>Packed with raw beauty, the park is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, with over 1,500 plant species and elusive wildlife inhabiting its diverse habitats. Look out for brown bears, eagles and over 147 butterfly species.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to its mountainous landscapes, \u0160ar Mountain features plenty of history and culture. The region has been inhabited for thousands of years, with evidence of human settlement dating back to ancient times.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the park, you can spot medieval Orthodox churches, monasteries, fortifications, and traditional villages that offer insights into the area's rich cultural heritage. It's easy to see why this historically significant area has been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Site programme.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709825644,"updatedAt":1709971275,"publishedAt":1709971220,"firstPublishedAt":1709829280,"lastPublishedAt":1709971275,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Canva","altText":"Serbia\u2019s national parks are a nature lover\u2019s dream","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Serbia\u2019s national parks are a nature lover\u2019s dream","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/29\/19\/42\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d76580f3-35b5-586b-a953-45139cbfbc99-8291942.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Canva","altText":"The Brown Bear is the largest carnivore in Serbia","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"The Brown Bear is the largest carnivore in 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national parks are a nature lover\u2019s dream: Where to go for vineyards, hiking and history","path":"\/travel\/2024\/03\/09\/serbias-national-parks-are-a-nature-lovers-dream-where-to-go-for-vineyards-hiking-and-hist","lastModified":1709971275},{"id":2492210,"cid":8283114,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240304_ECSU_54960946","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Claims of eroded democracy threaten Serbia's EU relations and economic growth","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"'Eroded democracy' threatens Serbia's EU relations and economic growth","titleListing2":"Claims of eroded democracy in Serbia threaten its EU relations and economic growth","leadin":"For the first time in 12 years, since President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107's party has been in power in Serbia, official measures approved in Brussels are sending a clear warning to Serbian authorities: there'll be no more EU funding unless allegations of election fraud are thoroughly investigated.","summary":"For the first time in 12 years, since President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107's party has been in power in Serbia, official measures approved in Brussels are sending a clear warning to Serbian authorities: there'll be no more EU funding unless allegations of election fraud are thoroughly investigated.","keySentence":"","url":"claims-of-eroded-democracy-threaten-serbias-eu-relations-and-economic-growth","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2024\/03\/04\/claims-of-eroded-democracy-threaten-serbias-eu-relations-and-economic-growth","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Governed for more than a decade by a national-populist regime, Serbia finds itself at a critical juncture: it's navigating the challenges of economic stability and democratic erosion while relying heavily on trade with the European Union, as well as its pre-accession funds from the bloc. \n\nThis reliance shows just how important EU-Serbia relations are, both economically and politically. However, the erosion of democratic norms and accusations of election tampering pose threats to this relationship, aggravating the western Balkan country's vulnerabilities. \n\nThe tipping point for overt allegations of creeping authoritarianism in Serbia resulted from the 17 December local election in Belgrade. \n\nThe sheer scale of apparent irregularities, such as mass voter migration from other parts of Serbia and neighbouring countries, sparked opposition protests and attracted the withering eye of the European Parliament (EP) and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights alike. \n\nThe European Parliament passed a resolution on 8 February calling for the suspension of EU funding to Serbia if national authorities fail to implement its electoral recommendations and if it's revealed that Serbian authorities committed electoral fraud. \n\nThe OSCE report was vaguer than the EP resolution but concluded, among other things, that Serbia's campaign resolutions \"fall short of ensuring a level playing field and lack effective enforcement mechanisms, contrary to previous OSCE recommendations\". \n\nInternational institutions are not the only ones who have been critical of the Belgrade government lately. \n\nThe most recent Freedom House report ranks Serbia's political rights score at 18 out of a possible 40, placing it among the partly free, hybrid regimes category, with a downward tendency towards authoritarianism. \n\nThe score also marks a considerable drop even when comparing it to Serbia's score of 29 back in 2017, when the same regime was in power.\u00a0 \n\nThe report elicited criticism from President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 during his appearance on the national broadcaster RTS on 2 March, dismissing Serbia's poor Freedom House ranking because \"the report was written by Nikola Burazer\". \n\nBurazer, a Serbian political scientist and executive editor of news outlet European Western Balkans, denied Vu\u010di\u0107's claims that he wrote this particular report. \n\n\"They [the Serbian authorities] want to discredit Freedom House through an 'easy target' such as myself,\" he said. \n\nWhile Serbian politicians often disregard recommendations outlined in foreign reports, the European Parliament resolution which demands an actual investigation into electoral irregularities and concrete sanctions if Serbia fails to comply with these demands could be cause for concern.\u00a0 \n\n\"Serbia did not fulfil its commitments to free and fair elections,\" the EP said in a press release on the motion being passed. \n\n\"If the findings of investigation indicate that the Serbian authorities were directly involved in the voter fraud, MEPs call for EU funding to be suspended on the basis of severe breaches of the rule of law in connection with Serbia\u2019s elections,\" the parliament said in the motion's conclusion. \n\nSerbia's economy needs the EU \n\nSerbia's economic ties with the EU are substantial, so it's critical for Belgrade to maintain good relations and progress on its way to joining the bloc. \n\nThese ties emphasise the risks Serbia faces if it chooses a path of direct conflict with the EU on the question of organising free and fair elections. \n\nAccording to Eurostat data, in 2021, the EU accounted for approximately 60% of Serbia's total trade in goods, underlining its pivotal role as Serbia's largest trading partner. \n\nSerbia exported goods worth \u20ac11.2 billion to the EU but imported \u20ac21.8 billion, resulting in a trade deficit. This shows how much Serbia's economy relies on the EU market. \n\nMoreover, the EU serves as a key source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for Serbia. Over the years, EU companies have invested significantly in Serbia, driving economic growth, job creation, and technology transfer. \n\nAccess to EU markets and investment opportunities has been instrumental in fostering Serbia's economic development and integration into global value chains.\u00a0 \n\nHowever, in recent years, the Serbian government has been trying to position itself to receive substantial FDI from China, which in last year's tally rose to second place right after the EU. \n\nThis is part of the Serbian regime's strategy to present itself as having a strong hand, to try and show decision-makers in Brussels\u00a0that it has some sort of tangible alternative to the EU. \n\nBefore China, Russia played this role, both politically and through opaque energy and transport infrastructure investments. \n\nHowever, the potential disruption of trade relations with the EU due to political tensions or democratic backsliding could have dire consequences for Serbia's economy. \n\nTariff barriers, regulatory hurdles, and reduced market access would impede Serbia's export-oriented industries, particularly manufacturing and agriculture. Furthermore, diminished investor confidence and capital flight could exacerbate economic instability, currency depreciation, and inflationary pressures. \n\nWhat's more, EU membership offers Serbia access to crucial financial assistance, technical support, and capacity-building programmes: pre-accession funds, such as the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), facilitate socio-economic development, infrastructure upgrades, and institution-building initiatives.\u00a0 \n\nEnhanced cooperation with EU agencies and institutions meanwhile fosters policy convergence, regulatory harmonisation, and alignment with European standards. \n\nIf the EU slashed funds for Serbia, it wouldn't have an immediate economic effect but would contribute to the erosion of the current political system, making it more authoritarian, according to\u00a0Danica Popovi\u0107, a professor from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Belgrade. \n\n\"Those two things [the spheres of economics and politics] are always connected, which would mean that foreign investors will start looking for a more suitable location for their investments,\" she said. \"In other words, Serbia would be set on a path of shutting itself off from the world.\" \n\nIf that happened, Serbia would face higher interest rates for borrowing on the international market, which would further encumber the large public debt already burdening the country,\u00a0Popovi\u0107 added. \n\nIn essence, Serbia's future prosperity and democratic resilience are intricately linked to its relationship with the EU. \n\nWhile Brussels has taken a more aloof approach in past Serbian elections, it's now got the populist regime in Belgrade and its undemocratic tendencies in its sights. \n\nFaced with stiff pressure both from international factors and internal opposition, the Serbian government made a last-minute decision to hold new elections in Belgrade at a currently unknown date, still refusing to admit to election fraud or investigate it and claiming that the majority in Belgrade city council is out of reach for the ruling party. \n\nWhile the EU and the Serbian opposition might consider this a victory, in reality, it's just a first step toward reclaiming Serbia's democracy and ensuring the country's economic future. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Governed for more than a decade by a national-populist regime, Serbia finds itself at a critical juncture: it's navigating the challenges of economic stability and democratic erosion while relying heavily on trade with the European Union, as well as its pre-accession funds from the bloc.<\/p>\n<p>This reliance shows just how important EU-Serbia relations are, both economically and politically. However, the erosion of democratic norms and accusations of election tampering pose threats to this relationship, aggravating the western Balkan country's vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n<p>The tipping point for overt allegations of creeping authoritarianism in Serbia resulted from the 17 December local election in Belgrade.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8259234,8226872\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//02//23//kosovos-currency-crisis-with-serbia-who-will-be-the-winner/">Kosovo's currency crisis with Serbia: Who will be the winner?<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//02//08//eu-lawmakers-seek-investigation-into-serbia-vote-fraud-allegations-with-an-eye-to-freezing/">EU lawmakers seek investigation into Serbia vote fraud allegations with an eye to freezing funds<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The sheer scale of apparent irregularities, such as mass voter migration from other parts of Serbia and neighbouring countries, sparked opposition protests and attracted the withering eye of the European Parliament (EP) and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights alike.<\/p>\n<p>The European Parliament passed a resolution on 8 February calling for the suspension of EU funding to Serbia if national authorities fail to implement its electoral recommendations and if it's revealed that Serbian authorities committed electoral fraud.<\/p>\n<p>The OSCE report was vaguer than the EP resolution but concluded, among other things, that Serbia's campaign resolutions \"fall short of ensuring a level playing field and lack effective enforcement mechanisms, contrary to previous OSCE recommendations\".<\/p>\n<p>International institutions are not the only ones who have been critical of the Belgrade government lately.<\/p>\n<p>The most recent Freedom House report ranks Serbia's political rights score at 18 out of a possible 40, placing it among the partly free, hybrid regimes category, with a downward tendency towards authoritarianism.<\/p>\n<p>The score also marks a considerable drop even when comparing it to Serbia's score of 29 back in 2017, when the same regime was in power.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">Serbia did not fulfil its commitments to free and fair elections.<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <div class=\"widget__authorText\">\n European Parliament\n <\/div>\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The report elicited criticism from President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 during his appearance on the national broadcaster RTS on 2 March, dismissing Serbia's poor Freedom House ranking because \"the report was written by Nikola Burazer\".<\/p>\n<p>Burazer, a Serbian political scientist and executive editor of news outlet European Western Balkans, denied Vu\u010di\u0107's claims that he wrote this particular report.<\/p>\n<p>\"They [the Serbian authorities] want to discredit Freedom House through an 'easy target' such as myself,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>While Serbian politicians often disregard recommendations outlined in foreign reports, the European Parliament resolution which demands an actual investigation into electoral irregularities and concrete sanctions if Serbia fails to comply with these demands could be cause for concern.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"Serbia did not fulfil its commitments to free and fair elections,\" the EP said in a press release on the motion being passed.<\/p>\n<p>\"If the findings of investigation indicate that the Serbian authorities were directly involved in the voter fraud, MEPs call for EU funding to be suspended on the basis of severe breaches of the rule of law in connection with Serbia\u2019s elections,\" the parliament said in the motion's conclusion.<\/p>\n<h2>Serbia's economy needs the EU<\/h2><p>Serbia's economic ties with the EU are substantial, so it's critical for Belgrade to maintain good relations and progress on its way to joining the bloc.<\/p>\n<p>These ties emphasise the risks Serbia faces if it chooses a path of direct conflict with the EU on the question of organising free and fair elections.<\/p>\n<p>According to Eurostat data, in 2021, the EU accounted for approximately 60% of Serbia's total trade in goods, underlining its pivotal role as Serbia's largest trading partner.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia exported goods worth \u20ac11.2 billion to the EU but imported \u20ac21.8 billion, resulting in a trade deficit. This shows how much Serbia's economy relies on the EU market.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, the EU serves as a key source of foreign direct investment (FDI) for Serbia. Over the years, EU companies have invested significantly in Serbia, driving economic growth, job creation, and technology transfer.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//00//69//56//808x539_cmsv2_ebb1139c-89ec-5edb-aa93-90c66ba0fab2-8006956.jpg/" alt=\"Vu\u010di\u0107, right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive at a press conference after talks at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/00\/69\/56\/384x256_cmsv2_ebb1139c-89ec-5edb-aa93-90c66ba0fab2-8006956.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/00\/69\/56\/640x427_cmsv2_ebb1139c-89ec-5edb-aa93-90c66ba0fab2-8006956.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/00\/69\/56\/750x500_cmsv2_ebb1139c-89ec-5edb-aa93-90c66ba0fab2-8006956.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/00\/69\/56\/828x552_cmsv2_ebb1139c-89ec-5edb-aa93-90c66ba0fab2-8006956.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/00\/69\/56\/1080x720_cmsv2_ebb1139c-89ec-5edb-aa93-90c66ba0fab2-8006956.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/00\/69\/56\/1200x800_cmsv2_ebb1139c-89ec-5edb-aa93-90c66ba0fab2-8006956.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/00\/69\/56\/1920x1281_cmsv2_ebb1139c-89ec-5edb-aa93-90c66ba0fab2-8006956.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Vu\u010di\u0107, right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive at a press conference after talks at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Access to EU markets and investment opportunities has been instrumental in fostering Serbia's economic development and integration into global value chains.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, in recent years, the Serbian government has been trying to position itself to receive substantial FDI from China, which in last year's tally rose to second place right after the EU.<\/p>\n<p>This is part of the Serbian regime's strategy to present itself as having a strong hand, to try and show decision-makers in Brussels\u00a0that it has some sort of tangible alternative to the EU.<\/p>\n<p>Before China, Russia played this role, both politically and through opaque energy and transport infrastructure investments.<\/p>\n<p>However, the potential disruption of trade relations with the EU due to political tensions or democratic backsliding could have dire consequences for Serbia's economy.<\/p>\n<p>Tariff barriers, regulatory hurdles, and reduced market access would impede Serbia's export-oriented industries, particularly manufacturing and agriculture. Furthermore, diminished investor confidence and capital flight could exacerbate economic instability, currency depreciation, and inflationary pressures.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">Serbia would be set on a path of shutting itself off from the world<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <div class=\"widget__authorText\">\n Danica Popovi\u0107\n <\/div>\n <div class=\"widget__author_descriptionText\">\n Professor from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Belgrade\n <\/div>\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>What's more, EU membership offers Serbia access to crucial financial assistance, technical support, and capacity-building programmes: pre-accession funds, such as the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), facilitate socio-economic development, infrastructure upgrades, and institution-building initiatives.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Enhanced cooperation with EU agencies and institutions meanwhile fosters policy convergence, regulatory harmonisation, and alignment with European standards.<\/p>\n<p>If the EU slashed funds for Serbia, it wouldn't have an immediate economic effect but would contribute to the erosion of the current political system, making it more authoritarian, according to\u00a0Danica Popovi\u0107, a professor from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Belgrade.<\/p>\n<p>\"Those two things [the spheres of economics and politics] are always connected, which would mean that foreign investors will start looking for a more suitable location for their investments,\" she said. \"In other words, Serbia would be set on a path of shutting itself off from the world.\"<\/p>\n<p>If that happened, Serbia would face higher interest rates for borrowing on the international market, which would further encumber the large public debt already burdening the country,\u00a0Popovi\u0107 added.<\/p>\n<p>In essence, Serbia's future prosperity and democratic resilience are intricately linked to its relationship with the EU.<\/p>\n<p>While Brussels has taken a more aloof approach in past Serbian elections, it's now got the populist regime in Belgrade and its undemocratic tendencies in its sights.<\/p>\n<p>Faced with stiff pressure both from international factors and internal opposition, the Serbian government made a last-minute decision to hold new elections in Belgrade at a currently unknown date, still refusing to admit to election fraud or investigate it and claiming that the majority in Belgrade city council is out of reach for the ruling party.<\/p>\n<p>While the EU and the Serbian opposition might consider this a victory, in reality, it's just a first step toward reclaiming Serbia's democracy and ensuring the country's economic future.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709546318,"updatedAt":1709552903,"publishedAt":1709552898,"firstPublishedAt":1709552903,"lastPublishedAt":1709552903,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic, File","altText":"Opposition lawmakers hold banners reading: \"Stole the elections\" during a Serbia's parliament constitutive session in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 6, 2024.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Opposition lawmakers hold banners reading: \"Stole the elections\" during a Serbia's parliament constitutive session in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 6, 2024.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/23\/14\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_80222ed7-a98b-56d2-a6fd-dfaf24d5ad29-8282314.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia 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Djokic","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"vertical":"business","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"business","id":11,"title":"Business","slug":"business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"economy","id":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":72,"urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','gs_politics','gs_politics_misc','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_busfin','gs_busfin_economy','gs_economy','gt_negative','gs_economy_misc','custom_politics_brussels','eu_brussels_politics_eng','neg_facebook','gs_politics_elections','neg_mobkoi_castrol','shadow9hu7_pos_ukrainecrisis','neg_tiktok_q1_2024_eng','gt_negative_anger'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"BUSINESS EU SERBIA ECONOMIC GROWTH","path":"\/business\/2024\/03\/04\/claims-of-eroded-democracy-threaten-serbias-eu-relations-and-economic-growth","lastModified":1709552903},{"id":2491968,"cid":8282314,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240304_NWSU_54958154","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbia election to be re-run in Belgrade amid opposition fraud claims","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Serbia election to be re-run in Belgrade amid fraud claims","titleListing2":"Serbia election to be re-run in Belgrade amid opposition fraud claims","leadin":"Serbia's opposition has accused the ruling party of voter fraud in last December's elections.","summary":"Serbia's opposition has accused the ruling party of voter fraud in last December's elections.","keySentence":"","url":"serbia-election-to-be-re-run-in-belgrade-amid-opposition-fraud-claims","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/03\/04\/serbia-election-to-be-re-run-in-belgrade-amid-opposition-fraud-claims","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A key vote for control of Serbia's capital - a focal point of widespread fraud reports after last December elections - is to be rerun later this year, officials said on Sunday. \n\nThe announcement follows months of soaring political tensions over claims the ruling populists of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 rigged the vote for Belgrade's city assembly. \n\nHis right-wing Serbian Progressive Party was declared the winner of the 17 December election. But the main opposition alliance, Serbia Against Violence, have insisted they were robbed of a victory in the capital.\u00a0\u00a0 \n\nThey say widespread irregularities also marred the parliamentary vote that took place at the same time.\u00a0 \n\nThe dispute has led to large street protests. \n\nIt was not immediately clear when the new vote would be held.\u00a0 \n\nSunday marked the formal deadline to form the Belgrade city authorities following the December vote. The outgoing assembly will remain in place until the new election. \n\nVu\u010di\u0107 and his party have denied any wrongdoing , dismissing fraud claims as fabrications aimed at destabilising Serbia. \n\nInternational election observers, however, said earlier this week that the December election was held in \u201cunjust conditions,\u201d in part because of the president\u2019s involvement and systemic advantages for the ruling party. \n\nThe report by an office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe also said the ballot was \u201cmarred by harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources.\u201d\u00a0 \n\nIt listed a set of recommendations for Serbia to fulfil before its next vote. \n\nOpposition politicians said the announcement of the new vote showed that Vu\u010di\u0107's party was defeated in Belgrade after his decade-long tight grip on power. \n\n\u201cToday they admitted they lost (the election) despite the robbery of enormous proportions,\u201d said Vladimir Obradovic, an opposition candidate for the Belgrade mayor.\u00a0 \n\n\"The citizens of Belgrade have shown they don't want them (the ruling Serbian Progressive Party).\" \n\nThe opposition and some local election monitors have claimed that voters from abroad were added to voters\u2019 lists in Belgrade and were bused in on election day to vote for the ruling party. \n\nSerbia is a candidate for European Union membership, but Vu\u010di\u0107 has faced accusations of curbing democratic freedoms since taking a firm grip on power in the Balkan country over a decade ago. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>A key vote for control of Serbia's capital - a focal point of widespread <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//01//27//protests-against-fraudulent-elections-continue-in-belgrade/">fraud reports after last December elections - is to be rerun later this year, officials said on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement follows months of soaring political tensions over claims the ruling populists of President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 rigged the vote for Belgrade's city assembly.<\/p>\n<p>His right-wing Serbian Progressive Party was declared the winner of the 17 December election. But the main opposition alliance, Serbia Against Violence, have insisted they were robbed of a victory in the capital.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>They say widespread irregularities also marred the parliamentary vote that took place at the same time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The dispute has led to large street protests.<\/p>\n<p>It was not immediately clear when the new vote would be held.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Sunday marked the formal deadline to form the Belgrade city authorities following the December vote. The outgoing assembly will remain in place until the new election.<\/p>\n<p>Vu\u010di\u0107 and his party have denied any <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//12//17//serbias-ruling-populists-claim-sweeping-victory-in-the-countrys-parliamentary-election/">wrongdoing, dismissing fraud claims as fabrications aimed at destabilising Serbia.<\/p>\n<p><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//02//08//eu-lawmakers-seek-investigation-into-serbia-vote-fraud-allegations-with-an-eye-to-freezing/">International election observers, however, said earlier this week that the December election was held in \u201cunjust conditions,\u201d in part because of the president\u2019s involvement and systemic advantages for the ruling party.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1763093704078688692\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The report by an office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe also said the ballot was \u201cmarred by harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It listed a set of recommendations for Serbia to fulfil before its next vote.<\/p>\n<p>Opposition politicians said the announcement of the new vote showed that Vu\u010di\u0107's party was defeated in Belgrade after his decade-long tight grip on power.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday they admitted they lost (the election) despite the robbery of enormous proportions,\u201d said Vladimir Obradovic, an opposition candidate for the Belgrade mayor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"The citizens of Belgrade have shown they don't want them (the ruling Serbian Progressive Party).\"<\/p>\n<p>The opposition and some local election monitors have claimed that voters from abroad were added to voters\u2019 lists in Belgrade and were bused in on election day to vote for the ruling party.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia is a candidate for European Union membership, but Vu\u010di\u0107 has faced accusations of curbing democratic freedoms since taking a firm grip on power in the Balkan country over a decade ago.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1709514772,"updatedAt":1709551445,"publishedAt":1709551028,"firstPublishedAt":1709551031,"lastPublishedAt":1709551031,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Associated Press","altText":"Opposition lawmakers hold banners reading: \"Stole the elections\" during a Serbia's parliament constitutive session in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 6, 2024.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Opposition lawmakers hold banners reading: \"Stole the elections\" during a Serbia's parliament constitutive session in Belgrade, Serbia, Feb. 6, 2024.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/23\/14\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_80222ed7-a98b-56d2-a6fd-dfaf24d5ad29-8282314.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2018 The AP. All rights reserved.","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/28\/23\/16\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a0a2ae57-83df-5a57-809c-76349984eb60-8282316.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":685}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"belgrade","titleRaw":"Belgrade","id":1731,"title":"Belgrade","slug":"belgrade"},{"urlSafeValue":"municipal-elections","titleRaw":"Municipal elections","id":7925,"title":"Municipal elections","slug":"municipal-elections"},{"urlSafeValue":"aleksandar-vucic","titleRaw":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","id":13964,"title":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"twitter"}],"related":[{"id":2473938},{"id":2471802},{"id":2467248}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x8ttl7e","youtubeId":"_CUEsD7VMHc"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":4615427,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/03\/04\/en\/240304_NWSU_54958154_54958178_35000_090519_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":6819587,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/03\/04\/en\/240304_NWSU_54958154_54958178_35000_090519_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_politics','gs_politics_elections','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_misc'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"SHORT Serbia Belgrade Reelection","path":"\/2024\/03\/04\/serbia-election-to-be-re-run-in-belgrade-amid-opposition-fraud-claims","lastModified":1709551031},{"id":2482648,"cid":8253030,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240220_NWSU_54849800","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"The plight and hope of Ukrainian and Russian refugees in Serbia","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"The plight and hope of Ukrainian and Russian refugees in Serbia","titleListing2":"The plight and hope of Ukrainian and Russian refugees in Serbia","leadin":"Around 150,000 Russians and 16,000 Ukrainians are currently living in the country.","summary":"Around 150,000 Russians and 16,000 Ukrainians are currently living in the country.","keySentence":"","url":"the-plight-and-hope-of-ukrainian-and-russian-refugees-in-serbia","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/02\/21\/the-plight-and-hope-of-ukrainian-and-russian-refugees-in-serbia","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Since the war began in Ukraine two years ago, thousands of Ukrainian and Russian refugees\u00a0have fled to Serbia.\u00a0While some continued their journey toward Western Europe, others chose to stay in the Western Balkan country, seeking safety and stability away from the conflict. \n\nZhenya arrived just a few weeks after the war started from the Sakhalin Oblast in the east of Russia and settled in the university city of Novi Sad in the northwest of Serbia. \n\nShe is not proud of the war in Ukraine \u2013 in fact, quite the opposite.\u00a0 \n\n\"When the war started, we felt very bad,\" she says of her situation in February 2022. \"We cried for several days. I felt like I was in a cage.\u00a0 \n\n\"I may not feel guilty, but I feel responsible for my country killing people from a neighbouring country in my name.\" \n\nBecause Russian citizens must obtain a visa to enter the EU, many who are keen to travel onward are prevented from doing so. This is a primary reason why most refugees who remain in Serbia come from Russia. \n\n'It's nice in Serbia, but it's nicer at home' \n\nThe Ukrainians still in Serbia, meanwhile, want to return to their country. Having fled the war, they long for their families and friends who stayed in Ukraine.\u00a0 \n\nIvanna Korniik's husband is currently living in Kyiv after fighting at the front for a year. She wants to reunite with him, but the war means she cannot yet return home. \n\n\"I haven't seen my husband for two years,\" she says. \"I lived with my mother and my sister in the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi. It's nice in Serbia, but it's nicer at home.\"\u00a0 \n\nMany Ukrainian women are in a similar situation, whose husbands are fighting at the front or cannot leave their homeland due to the war. \n\nMany refugees from Ukraine continue their journey to the European Union to settle there until the end of the war. According to official figures, about 80,000 Ukrainian refugees have traveled through Serbia to the European Union so far. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Since the war began in Ukraine two years ago, thousands of Ukrainian and Russian refugees\u00a0have fled to Serbia.\u00a0While some continued their journey toward Western Europe, others chose to stay in the Western Balkan country, seeking safety and stability away from the conflict.<\/p>\n<p>Zhenya arrived just a few weeks after the war started from the Sakhalin Oblast in the east of Russia and settled in the university city of Novi Sad in the northwest of Serbia.<\/p>\n<p>She is not proud of the war in Ukraine \u2013 in fact, quite the opposite.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"When the war started, we felt very bad,\" she says of her situation in February 2022. \"We cried for several days. I felt like I was in a cage.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"I may not feel guilty, but I feel responsible for my country killing people from a neighbouring country in my name.\"<\/p>\n<p>Because Russian citizens must obtain a visa to enter the EU, many who are keen to travel onward are prevented from doing so. This is a primary reason why most refugees who remain in Serbia come from Russia.<\/p>\n<h2>'It's nice in Serbia, but it's nicer at home'<\/h2><p>The Ukrainians still in Serbia, meanwhile, want to return to their country. Having fled the war, they long for their families and friends who stayed in Ukraine.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Ivanna Korniik's husband is currently living in Kyiv after fighting at the front for a year. She wants to reunite with him, but the war means she cannot yet return home.<\/p>\n<p>\"I haven't seen my husband for two years,\" she says. \"I lived with my mother and my sister in the city of Kamianets-Podilskyi. It's nice in Serbia, but it's nicer at home.\"\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Many Ukrainian women are in a similar situation, whose husbands are fighting at the front or cannot leave their homeland due to the war.<\/p>\n<p>Many refugees from Ukraine continue their journey to the European Union to settle there until the end of the war. According to official figures, about 80,000 Ukrainian refugees have traveled through Serbia to the European Union so far.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1708420013,"updatedAt":1708525625,"publishedAt":1708525136,"firstPublishedAt":1708525141,"lastPublishedAt":1708525141,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"People attend a protest in front of Russian embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. ","callToActionText":null,"width":6064,"caption":"People attend a protest in front of Russian embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/25\/30\/30\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_877d6461-21ea-522e-98ee-a5178e2036b4-8253030.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":4043},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2048,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/25\/30\/40\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_35593755-d865-54e4-9562-316c1c1a423f-8253040.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1536}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"war-in-ukraine","titleRaw":"Ukraine war","id":26692,"title":"Ukraine war","slug":"war-in-ukraine"},{"urlSafeValue":"refugees","titleRaw":"Refugees","id":8151,"title":"Refugees","slug":"refugees"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2467248},{"id":2482436},{"id":2483822}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"c3dvZMRDmWA","dailymotionId":"x8t2teq"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":110000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":14428394,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/02\/20\/en\/240220_NWSU_54849800_54856621_110000_191435_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":110000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":21668074,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/02\/20\/en\/240220_NWSU_54849800_54856621_110000_191435_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":{"id":3249,"urlSafeValue":"belgrade","title":"Belgrade"},"grapeshot":"'gs_science','gs_science_geography','gb_sensitive_high','gb_sensitive_high_med','gb_sensitive_high_med_low','gb_sensitive_serious','gv_military','gb_death_injury_high_med','gb_death_injury_high_med_low','gb_death_injury_news-ent','gs_politics','gs_war_conflict'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"SERBIA RUS&UA REFUGEES","path":"\/2024\/02\/21\/the-plight-and-hope-of-ukrainian-and-russian-refugees-in-serbia","lastModified":1708525141},{"id":2472326,"cid":8221644,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240206_NWSU_54731748","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Opposition stages protests as new Serbian parliament inaugurated","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Opposition stages protests as new Serbian parliament inaugurated","titleListing2":"Opposition stages protests as new Serbian parliament inaugurated, despite alleged vote rigging","leadin":"Tensions ran high during the inauguration of Serbia's National Assembly on Tuesday, as opposition parties staged protests over alleged vote rigging in December's snap elections.","summary":"Tensions ran high during the inauguration of Serbia's National Assembly on Tuesday, as opposition parties staged protests over alleged vote rigging in December's snap elections.","keySentence":"","url":"opposition-stages-protests-as-new-serbian-parliament-inaugurated","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/02\/07\/opposition-stages-protests-as-new-serbian-parliament-inaugurated","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"December's parliamentary and municipal elections, which saw populist President\u00a0Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 tighten his grip on power, have been marred by reports of irregularities, including vote-buying and ballot-box stuffing. \n\nAs the new parliament held its first session, opposition lawmakers gathered\u00a0around the speaker's stand, whistling, booing and holding signs claiming President\u00a0Vu\u010di\u0107 \"stole the elections.\" \n\nThe protests were denounced by supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SPP), as they claimed the opposition's resistance showed a lack of \"patriotism.\" \n\nOpposition lawmakers refused to take the oath together with the ruling party deputies in the chamber as is convention, choosing to do it in the lobby instead.\u00a0 \n\n\"I think the citizens could see that this is neither a normal parliament, nor was it built on the will of the citizens of Serbia, but on the theft of elections,\u201d said opposition lawmaker Borko Stefanovi\u0107. \n\nThe president of Vu\u010di\u0107's ruling SPP, Milo\u0161 Vu\u010devi\u0107, accused the opposition of casting \"a\u00a0shadow on our country and our people,\" claiming that their protests \"showed the citizens that for them there is no one homeland, one state.\u201d \n\nSPP won 129 seats in the 250-seat assembly in December. The opposition Serbia Against Violence coalition finished a distant second with 65 seats. \n\nAn international OSCE mission found in a preliminary report that the parliamentary and municipal elections were \u201cmarred by harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources.\u201d \n\nThe European Parliament is set to issue a declaration on the vote on Thursday. Opposition officials said the ruling party was in a hurry to hold the inaugural parliamentary session because the report is expected to include recommendations on next steps. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>December's parliamentary and municipal elections, which saw populist President\u00a0Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 tighten his grip on power, have been marred by reports of irregularities, including vote-buying and ballot-box stuffing.<\/p>\n<p>As the new parliament held its first session, opposition lawmakers gathered\u00a0around the speaker's stand, whistling, booing and holding signs claiming President\u00a0Vu\u010di\u0107 \"stole the elections.\"<\/p>\n<p>The protests were denounced by supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SPP), as they claimed the opposition's resistance showed a lack of \"patriotism.\"<\/p>\n<p>Opposition lawmakers refused to take the oath together with the ruling party deputies in the chamber as is convention, choosing to do it in the lobby instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\"I think the citizens could see that this is neither a normal parliament, nor was it built on the will of the citizens of Serbia, but on the theft of elections,\u201d said opposition lawmaker Borko Stefanovi\u0107.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8176206\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2024//01//17//serbian-opposition-supporters-return-to-the-streets-claiming-fraud-in-last-months-election/">Serbian opposition supporters return to the streets claiming fraud in last month's election<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The president of Vu\u010di\u0107's ruling SPP, Milo\u0161 Vu\u010devi\u0107, accused the opposition of casting \"a\u00a0shadow on our country and our people,\" claiming that their protests \"showed the citizens that for them there is no one homeland, one state.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>SPP won 129 seats in the 250-seat assembly in December. The opposition Serbia Against Violence coalition finished a distant second with 65 seats.<\/p>\n<p>An international OSCE mission found in a preliminary report that the parliamentary and municipal elections were \u201cmarred by harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The European Parliament is set to issue a declaration on the vote on Thursday. Opposition officials said the ruling party was in a hurry to hold the inaugural parliamentary session because the report is expected to include recommendations on next steps.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1707228272,"updatedAt":1707286702,"publishedAt":1707286355,"firstPublishedAt":1707286358,"lastPublishedAt":1707286358,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"Opposition lawmakers hold banners reading: \"Stole the elections\" during a Serbia's parliament constitutive session in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. ","callToActionText":null,"width":4088,"caption":"Opposition lawmakers hold banners reading: \"Stole the elections\" during a Serbia's parliament constitutive session in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/16\/44\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7784228b-0d8b-51c0-b927-c72ab6f120fb-8221644.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2298},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo \/ Darko Vojinovic","altText":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"caption":null,"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/17\/92\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_85ef6cb9-1c79-585f-9125-7f50bd425555-8221792.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1067}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"clashes","titleRaw":"Clashes","id":12952,"title":"Clashes","slug":"clashes"},{"urlSafeValue":"inauguration","titleRaw":"inauguration","id":12547,"title":"inauguration","slug":"inauguration"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2437256},{"id":2457412}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"EUvLv1cW6mM","dailymotionId":"x8sa6xg"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60960,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":8098056,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/02\/06\/en\/240206_NWSU_54731748_54737456_60960_065906_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60960,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":12209416,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/02\/06\/en\/240206_NWSU_54731748_54737456_60960_065906_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"agencies","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_politics'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"SERBIA PARLIAMENT","path":"\/2024\/02\/07\/opposition-stages-protests-as-new-serbian-parliament-inaugurated","lastModified":1707286358},{"id":2471802,"cid":8220074,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240206_NWSU_54725723","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Hundreds protest in Serbia over acquittal of suspects in journalist's murder case","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Hundreds protest in Serbia over acquittal in journalist's murder case","titleListing2":"Hundreds protest in Serbia over acquittal of suspects in journalist's murder case","leadin":"Political tensions have been running high since a controversial election campaign in December 2023.","summary":"Political tensions have been running high since a controversial election campaign in December 2023.","keySentence":"","url":"hundreds-protest-in-serbia-over-acquittal-of-suspects-in-journalists-murder-case","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/02\/06\/hundreds-protest-in-serbia-over-acquittal-of-suspects-in-journalists-murder-case","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Belgrade in protest after four former state security officials were acquitted of the 1999 murder of journalist and editor Slavko \u0106uruvija. \n\n\n\u0106uruvija was shot dead at the entrance to his Belgrade apartment in 1999. His assassination coincided with NATO's bombing of Serbia over its crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists. \n\nA vocal critic of the Serbian government and branded an \"enemy of the state\" by the government of President Slobodan Milo\u0161evi\u0107, his murder became a symbol of the Balkan country's long-fought struggle for media freedom. \n\nProtesters gathered outside Belgrade's Appeals Court on Monday after it acquitted four former state security officials of charges of participation in his murder last Friday. \n\nThe ruling overturned the court's previous verdict in 2021 that convicted the four men and sentenced them to lengthy prison terms. \n\nThe court in Belgrade said that the accusations against the four officials \u201chave not been proven beyond a doubt\u201d. \n\nThe protests \u2013 attended by journalists and representatives of media associations \u2013 started with 25 minutes of silence to mark the years that have passed since \u0106uruvija's killing. \n\nDemonstrators held up mirrors, symbolically calling on the judges to look at their own reflections. \n\nThe government led by Serbia's current President Aleksandar Vucic, a populist who was information minister at the time of \u0106uruvija\u2019s death, maintains tight control over mainstream media outlets. \n\nThe acquittal has sparked fierce condemnation by journalists' associations, who fear it sends a dark signal about the future of media freedom and democracy in Serbia. \n\nIn 1999, the state-run media controlled by\u00a0Milo\u0161evi\u0107\u2019s regime accused\u00a0\u0106uruvija\u00a0of \"inviting\u2019\" the NATO Slliance to bomb Serbia.\u00a0 \n\nNATO's intervention in Serbia was in response to\u00a0Milo\u0161evi\u0107\u2019s bloody crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008. \n\nSerbian government officials have repeatedly denied any pressure on non-government media. \n\n\"I am shocked by this scandalous ruling, it sends a frightening message to all journalists and all people who are fighting for freedom of the speech,\" said Jelena \u0106uruvija, the victim's daughter who runs a foundation that promotes media freedom. \n\n\"This verdict is a proof that the dark forces of the 1990s still rule this country,\" she said. \"This is a land of darkness.\" \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Belgrade in protest after four former state security officials were acquitted of the 1999 murder of journalist and editor Slavko \u0106uruvija. <\/p>\n<p>\u0106uruvija was shot dead at the entrance to his Belgrade apartment in 1999. His assassination coincided with NATO's bombing of Serbia over its crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists.<\/p>\n<p>A vocal critic of the Serbian government and branded an \"enemy of the state\" by the government of President Slobodan Milo\u0161evi\u0107, his murder became a symbol of the Balkan country's long-fought struggle for media freedom.<\/p>\n<p>Protesters gathered outside Belgrade's Appeals Court on Monday after it acquitted four former state security officials of charges of participation in his murder last Friday.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling overturned the court's previous verdict in 2021 that convicted the four men and sentenced them to lengthy prison terms.<\/p>\n<p>The court in Belgrade said that the accusations against the four officials \u201chave not been proven beyond a doubt\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The protests \u2013 attended by journalists and representatives of media associations \u2013 started with 25 minutes of silence to mark the years that have passed since \u0106uruvija's killing.<\/p>\n<p>Demonstrators held up mirrors, symbolically calling on the judges to look at their own reflections.<\/p>\n<p>The government led by Serbia's current President Aleksandar Vucic, a populist who was information minister at the time of \u0106uruvija\u2019s death, maintains tight control over mainstream media outlets.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//22//00//74//808x539_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg/" alt=\"Media rights groups and opposition campaigners hold mirrors during a protest in front of the Serbian appeals court in Belgrade.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/384x256_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/640x427_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/750x500_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/828x552_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/1080x720_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/1200x800_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/1920x1281_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Media rights groups and opposition campaigners hold mirrors during a protest in front of the Serbian appeals court in Belgrade.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The acquittal has sparked fierce condemnation by journalists' associations, who fear it sends a dark signal about the future of media freedom and democracy in Serbia.<\/p>\n<p>In 1999, the state-run media controlled by\u00a0Milo\u0161evi\u0107\u2019s regime accused\u00a0\u0106uruvija\u00a0of \"inviting\u2019\" the NATO Slliance to bomb Serbia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>NATO's intervention in Serbia was in response to\u00a0Milo\u0161evi\u0107\u2019s bloody crackdown on ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008.<\/p>\n<p>Serbian government officials have repeatedly denied any pressure on non-government media.<\/p>\n<p>\"I am shocked by this scandalous ruling, it sends a frightening message to all journalists and all people who are fighting for freedom of the speech,\" said Jelena \u0106uruvija, the victim's daughter who runs a foundation that promotes media freedom.<\/p>\n<p>\"This verdict is a proof that the dark forces of the 1990s still rule this country,\" she said. \"This is a land of darkness.\"<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1707168187,"updatedAt":1707220093,"publishedAt":1707219031,"firstPublishedAt":1707219035,"lastPublishedAt":1707219035,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"Media rights groups and opposition campaigners hold leaflets showing journalist Slavko Curuvija during a protest in front of Serbian appeals court, in Belgrade, Serbia","callToActionText":null,"width":4088,"caption":"Media rights groups and opposition campaigners hold leaflets showing journalist Slavko Curuvija during a protest in front of Serbian appeals court, in Belgrade, Serbia","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_afb5b7ea-9d2d-58de-be08-27d2a9ebb747-8220074.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2298},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"Media rights groups and opposition campaigners hold mirrors during a protest in front of the Serbian appeals court in Belgrade.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Media rights groups and opposition campaigners hold mirrors during a protest in front of the Serbian appeals court in Belgrade.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/22\/00\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_370c6f08-b41e-5ff0-aec2-6e15d4895220-8220074.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"slavko-curuvija","titleRaw":"Slavko Curuvija","id":29568,"title":"Slavko Curuvija","slug":"slavko-curuvija"},{"urlSafeValue":"journalist","titleRaw":"Journalist","id":4472,"title":"Journalist","slug":"journalist"},{"urlSafeValue":"belgrade","titleRaw":"Belgrade","id":1731,"title":"Belgrade","slug":"belgrade"},{"urlSafeValue":"media","titleRaw":"Media","id":188,"title":"Media","slug":"media"},{"urlSafeValue":"protestas","titleRaw":"Protests","id":27110,"title":"Protests","slug":"protestas"},{"urlSafeValue":"murder","titleRaw":"Murder","id":12056,"title":"Murder","slug":"murder"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"}],"related":[{"id":2491968},{"id":2492496}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"w7kajA_2PLM","dailymotionId":"x8s8m6w"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":4500813,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/02\/06\/en\/240206_NWSU_54725723_54730307_35000_121953_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":6631757,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/02\/06\/en\/240206_NWSU_54725723_54730307_35000_121953_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"agencies","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_crime','gb_crime_high','gb_crime_high_med','gb_crime_high_med_low','gb_crime_serious','gb_death_injury_high','gb_death_injury_high_med','gb_death_injury_high_med_low','gb_death_injury_serious','gv_death_injury','gs_busfin','gs_busfin_indus','gs_busfin_indus_media','gb_crime_news-ent','gs_law','gs_law_misc'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"SHORT BELGRADE PROTEST MURDER","path":"\/2024\/02\/06\/hundreds-protest-in-serbia-over-acquittal-of-suspects-in-journalists-murder-case","lastModified":1707219035},{"id":2467248,"cid":8206172,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240130_NWSU_54670173","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbia considers reintroducing conscription as regional tensions grow","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Serbia considers reintroducing conscription as regional tensions grow","titleListing2":"\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddf8 Serbia considers reintroducing conscription as regional tensions grow","leadin":"Serbia's relations with Kosovo and Bosnia are at a low ebb, raising concerns about a return to violence.","summary":"Serbia's relations with Kosovo and Bosnia are at a low ebb, raising concerns about a return to violence.","keySentence":"","url":"serbia-considers-reintroducing-conscription-as-regional-tensions-grow","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/serbia-considers-reintroducing-conscription-as-regional-tensions-grow","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Serbia is considering reintroducing compulsory military service, its president said Tuesday, citing tensions in the Balkans and elsewhere in Europe. \n\nPresident Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 said top army commanders gave him \"a strong argumentation\" in favour of the reintroduction of a mandatory draft, which was suspended in 2011 in a push to professionalise the armed forces. \n\nThe populist Serbian president did not specify when the draft would return. He said the national parliament, which is dominated by his allies, would vote on the proposal, which comes after a long campaign by nationalists in favor of it. \n\n\"We are not threatening anyone,\" Vu\u010di\u0107 said as he inspected an exhibition of military hardware after meeting with the commanders. \"Today, if you don't have (a strong) army, you don't have a country.\" \n\n\"We will see if it (military service) will last 90 or 100 days, or maybe 110 days,\" Vu\u010di\u0107 told reporters. \"As well as when it will be introduced and how the financial and logistical assumptions will be fulfilled.\" \n\nOpposition politicians and other critics of a draft have questioned the logic of a military buildup when Serbia is almost completely surrounded by NATO member countries which have superior firepower in case of a conflict. There are also concerns that the government may struggle to foot the bill for a larger military. \n\nTensions have lately been high in the Balkans, which went through the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Although Serbia is formally neutral, its army has maintained close ties to Russia, from which it purchases most of its hardware, including fighter jets and tanks. \n\nAnd while Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership, its government has refused to introduce sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. \n\nThe main bone of contention is Serbia's former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Serbia and its allies Russia and China have not recognised its statehood. \n\nSerbia has raised the combat readiness of its forces on the border with Kosovo several times over the past several months. \n\nHowever, Belgrade has maintained cordial relations with NATO, whose peacekeeping troops have been stationed in Kosovo since 1999, when the Western military alliance intervened to stop Serbia's bloody crackdown on Kosovo Albanian separatists. \n\nAnother volatile region is Bosnia, where Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik has been threatening to declare the Serb-controlled half of Bosnia independent and unite it with neighbouring Serbia. \n\nDodik accompanied Vu\u010di\u0107 at the meeting with army commanders on Tuesday. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Serbia is considering reintroducing compulsory military service, its president said Tuesday, citing tensions in the Balkans and elsewhere in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>President <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////twitter.com//avucic/">Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107<\/strong><\/a> said top army commanders gave him \"a strong argumentation\" in favour of the reintroduction of a mandatory draft, which was suspended in 2011 in a push to professionalise the armed forces.<\/p>\n<p>The populist Serbian president did not specify when the draft would return. He said the national parliament, which is dominated by his allies, would vote on the proposal, which comes after a long campaign by nationalists in favor of it.<\/p>\n<p>\"We are not threatening anyone,\" Vu\u010di\u0107 said as he inspected an exhibition of military hardware after meeting with the commanders. \"Today, if you don't have (a strong) army, you don't have a country.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"We will see if it (military service) will last 90 or 100 days, or maybe 110 days,\" Vu\u010di\u0107 told reporters. \"As well as when it will be introduced and how the financial and logistical assumptions will be fulfilled.\"<\/p>\n<p>Opposition politicians and other critics of a draft have questioned the logic of a military buildup when Serbia is almost completely surrounded by NATO member countries which have superior firepower in case of a conflict. There are also concerns that the government may struggle to foot the bill for a larger military.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//20//61//72//808x539_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg/" alt=\"Serbian Army soldiers in Belgrage prepare for a presidential visit.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/384x256_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/640x427_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/750x500_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/828x552_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/1080x720_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/1200x800_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/1920x1281_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Serbian Army soldiers in Belgrage prepare for a presidential visit.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Tensions have lately been high in the Balkans, which went through the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Although Serbia is formally neutral, its army has maintained close ties to Russia, from which it purchases most of its hardware, including fighter jets and tanks.<\/p>\n<p>And while Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership, its government has refused to introduce sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>The main bone of contention is Serbia's former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008. Serbia and its allies Russia and China have not recognised its statehood.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia has raised the combat readiness of its forces on the border with Kosovo several times over the past several months.<\/p>\n<p>However, Belgrade has maintained cordial relations with NATO, whose peacekeeping troops have been stationed in Kosovo since 1999, when the Western military alliance intervened to stop Serbia's bloody crackdown on Kosovo Albanian separatists.<\/p>\n<p>Another volatile region is Bosnia, where Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik has been threatening to declare the Serb-controlled half of Bosnia independent and unite it with neighbouring Serbia.<\/p>\n<p>Dodik accompanied Vu\u010di\u0107 at the meeting with army commanders on Tuesday.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1706625650,"updatedAt":1706630927,"publishedAt":1706630924,"firstPublishedAt":1706630927,"lastPublishedAt":1706630927,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic","altText":"Serbia's President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 reviews the honour guard during a welcoming ceremony at the army barracks in Belgrade.","callToActionText":null,"width":5021,"caption":"Serbia's President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 reviews the honour guard during a welcoming ceremony at the army barracks in Belgrade.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b608551d-ad0e-5fe9-a1a0-f6d076e0a8de-8206172.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2826},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"Serbian Army soldiers in Belgrage prepare for a presidential visit.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Serbian Army soldiers in Belgrage prepare for a presidential visit.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/61\/72\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_af7b4ff6-34de-53a8-a63b-4419fe525971-8206172.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"kosovo","titleRaw":"Kosovo","id":343,"title":"Kosovo","slug":"kosovo"},{"urlSafeValue":"bosnia-and-herzegovina","titleRaw":"Bosnia and Herzegovina","id":33,"title":"Bosnia and Herzegovina","slug":"bosnia-and-herzegovina"},{"urlSafeValue":"aleksandar-vucic","titleRaw":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","id":13964,"title":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"}],"related":[{"id":2478544},{"id":2482648},{"id":2491968}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"euronews.byenglishwebteam"},{"path":"euronews"}],"externalPartners":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_misc','shadow9hu7_pos_ukrainecrisis','neg_mobkoi_creed_eng','neg_mobkoi_new','neg_intel_mobkoi','gv_military','gs_busfin','neg_zegna_eng','neg_ukraine_russia_war','shadow9hu7_pos_ukraine-russia','gs_busfin_indus','gt_negative','gs_science','gs_science_geography','gt_negative_anger','gs_busfin_indus_defense'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"web serbia military draft","path":"\/2024\/01\/30\/serbia-considers-reintroducing-conscription-as-regional-tensions-grow","lastModified":1706630927},{"id":2466690,"cid":8204544,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240130_NWSU_54663431","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Parents of teenage school shooter who killed 10 face trial in Belgrade","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Parents of teenage school shooter who killed 10 face trial in Belgrade","titleListing2":"Court proceedings began nearly nine months after massacre that shocked Serbia","leadin":"Court proceedings began nearly nine months after massacre that shocked Serbia.","summary":"Court proceedings began nearly nine months after massacre that shocked Serbia.","keySentence":"","url":"parents-of-teenage-school-shooter-who-killed-10-face-trial-in-belgrade","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/01\/30\/parents-of-teenage-school-shooter-who-killed-10-face-trial-in-belgrade","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A trial began on Monday in Belgrade, Serbia for the parents of a teenager accused of killing 10 people and injuring six in a mass shooting at his school last May. \n\n\nThe suspected shooter, 13-year-old Kosta Kecmanovic, killed nine fellow students, one security guard and injured six others in a rampage that left the Balkan nation in shock. \n\nKecmanovic has since been confined to a mental institution. Due to his age, he cannot be held criminally accountable under Serbian law. \n\nHowever, his parents face charges of a \"serious act against general safety\" for their alleged failure to secure the firearm and ammunition used in the tragic incident. \n\nDespite defence lawyers' requests for open proceedings, the High Court in Belgrade opted for a closed trial. \n\nAdditional charges have been filed against Kecmanovic's father, including the allegation that he trained the boy in firearm use without proper security measures at the family residence. \n\nThe manager of a shooting range and an instructor are also facing charges. \n\n\nThe school shooting in Belgrade on May 4, was met with widespread horror across the country. Another mass shooting occurred in central Serbia the following day, resulting in eight deaths and 14 injuries.\u00a0 \n\nThe two incidents led to months of protests against Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, accused of fostering a culture of violence in a nation marked by the traumatic conflicts of the 1990s. \n\nSerbia holds one of the highest rates of gun ownership globally, with a substantial number of weapons remaining from the conflicts of the 1990s. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>A trial began on Monday in Belgrade, Serbia for the parents of a teenager accused of killing 10 people and injuring six in a mass shooting at his school last May. <\/p>\n<p>The suspected shooter, 13-year-old Kosta Kecmanovic, killed nine fellow students, one security guard and injured six others in a rampage that left the Balkan nation in shock.<\/p>\n<p>Kecmanovic has since been confined to a mental institution. Due to his age, he cannot be held criminally accountable under Serbian law.<\/p>\n<p>However, his parents face charges of a \"serious act against general safety\" for their alleged failure to secure the firearm and ammunition used in the tragic incident.<\/p>\n<p>Despite defence lawyers' requests for open proceedings, the High Court in Belgrade opted for a closed trial.<\/p>\n<p>Additional charges have been filed against Kecmanovic's father, including the allegation that he trained the boy in firearm use without proper security measures at the family residence.<\/p>\n<p>The manager of a shooting range and an instructor are also facing charges. <\/p>\n<p>The school shooting in Belgrade on May 4, was met with widespread horror across the country. Another mass shooting occurred in central Serbia the following day, resulting in eight deaths and 14 injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The two incidents led to months of protests against Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic, accused of fostering a culture of violence in a nation marked by the traumatic conflicts of the 1990s.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia holds one of the highest rates of gun ownership globally, with a substantial number of weapons remaining from the conflicts of the 1990s.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1706564848,"updatedAt":1706613483,"publishedAt":1706613101,"firstPublishedAt":1706613110,"lastPublishedAt":1706613110,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"Police officers guard the Vladimir Ribnikar school in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 4, 2023 after a 13-year-old opened fire killing fellow students and a guard. ","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Police officers guard the Vladimir Ribnikar school in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 4, 2023 after a 13-year-old opened fire killing fellow students and a guard. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/20\/45\/44\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ab3731be-e959-5aa0-bed9-bada6f83ee1d-8204544.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"school-violence","titleRaw":"school violence","id":21668,"title":"school violence","slug":"school-violence"},{"urlSafeValue":"shooting","titleRaw":"shooting","id":13878,"title":"shooting","slug":"shooting"},{"urlSafeValue":"teenager","titleRaw":"teenager","id":23064,"title":"teenager","slug":"teenager"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2235448},{"id":2263662}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"e7fE5S_fGng","dailymotionId":"x8rwuz9"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":4855650,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/01\/30\/en\/240130_NWSU_54663431_54663455_35000_111000_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":7282018,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/01\/30\/en\/240130_NWSU_54663431_54663455_35000_111000_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gb_terrorism_high','gb_terrorism_high_med','gb_terrorism_high_med_low','gb_terrorism_serious','gv_crime','gb_arms_high','gb_arms_high_med','gb_arms_high_med_low','gb_arms_serious','gv_death_injury','gt_negative','gv_arms','gv_terrorism','gb_terrorism_edu','gb_terrorism_news-ent','gb_crime_edu','gb_crime_high_med_low','gb_crime_high','gb_crime_high_med','gb_crime_serious','gs_law_misc','gs_law','gb_death_injury_high_med','gb_death_injury_high_med_low','gb_death_injury_news-ent'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"SERBIA TRIAL SHORT","path":"\/2024\/01\/30\/parents-of-teenage-school-shooter-who-killed-10-face-trial-in-belgrade","lastModified":1706613110},{"id":2464934,"cid":8199690,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240127_NWSU_54643149","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Protests against 'fraudulent' elections continue in Belgrade","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Protests against 'fraudulent' elections continue in Belgrade","titleListing2":"\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddf8 Protests against December's elections, which opposition groups have said were fraudulent, continue in the Serbian capital Belgrade. ","leadin":"Opponents of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 rallied outside the Constitutional Court building on Friday to press their demand that last month's election be annulled and held again over reported widespread irregularities.","summary":"Opponents of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 rallied outside the Constitutional Court building on Friday to press their demand that last month's election be annulled and held again over reported widespread irregularities.","keySentence":"","url":"protests-against-fraudulent-elections-continue-in-belgrade","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/01\/27\/protests-against-fraudulent-elections-continue-in-belgrade","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Serbia Against Violence group - a coalition of opposition political parties -\u00a0has accused President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 's\u00a0populist government of orchestrating a fraud in the 17 December parliamentary and local elections, particularly in the capital Belgrade.\u00a0 \n\nVu\u010di\u0107\u00a0has denied the accusations levelled against him. \n\nThe state election commission has declared Vu\u010di\u0107's Serbian Progressive Party the election winner and rejected the opposition's complaints. The Constitutional Court is yet to rule on the dispute. \n\nOpposition politician Radomir Lazovic said \"this is a battle of all of us, everyone loses with this [vote rigging].\" \n\nSome 2,000 people also marched toward the headquarters of Serbia's public broadcaster RTS, which they accuse of pro-government bias. \n\nInternational election monitors reported instances of vote buying and ballot box stuffing, and said the Serbian election generally was held in \u201cunjust conditions.\u201d \n\nOpposition parties and local independent election observers have claimed voters were bused into Belgrade to cast ballots for the ruling party after being registered at bogus addresses. \n\nThousands of people rallied for days in late December accusing Vu\u010di\u0107 of stealing the ballot. Police used pepper spray and detained dozens of people after protesters tried to enter the Belgrade City Hall at one of the demonstrations. \n\nThough Vu\u010di\u0107 says he wants to lead Serbia into European Union membership - for which it has been a contender since 2012 - critics accuse the populist leader of imposing an autocracy by taking control over mainstream media and all state institutions. \n\nThe EU, for its part, has said Serbia must boost rule of law and democracy freedoms in order to become a member of the 27-nation bloc. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Serbia Against Violence group - a coalition of opposition political parties -\u00a0has accused President <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////twitter.com//avucic/">Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107<\/strong><\/a>'s\u00a0populist government of orchestrating a fraud in the 17 December parliamentary and local elections, particularly in the capital Belgrade.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Vu\u010di\u0107\u00a0has denied the accusations levelled against him.<\/p>\n<p>The state election commission has declared Vu\u010di\u0107's Serbian Progressive Party the election winner and rejected the opposition's complaints. The Constitutional Court is yet to rule on the dispute.<\/p>\n<p>Opposition politician Radomir Lazovic said \"this is a battle of all of us, everyone loses with this [vote rigging].\"<\/p>\n<p>Some 2,000 people also marched toward the headquarters of Serbia's public broadcaster RTS, which they accuse of pro-government bias.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6667495338719701\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//19//96//90//808x539_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg/" alt=\"A man holds a banner that reads: "Students Future of Serbia" during protest in front of Serbia's Constitutional Court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/384x256_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/640x427_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/750x500_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/828x552_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/1080x720_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/1200x800_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/1920x1280_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A man holds a banner that reads: "Students Future of Serbia" during protest in front of Serbia's Constitutional Court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Associated Press<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>International election monitors reported instances of vote buying and ballot box stuffing, and said the Serbian election generally was held in \u201cunjust conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Opposition parties and local independent election observers have claimed voters were bused into Belgrade to cast ballots for the ruling party after being registered at bogus addresses.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of people rallied for days in late December accusing Vu\u010di\u0107 of stealing the ballot. Police used pepper spray and detained dozens of people after protesters tried to enter the Belgrade City Hall at one of the demonstrations.<\/p>\n<p>Though Vu\u010di\u0107 says he wants to lead Serbia into European Union membership - for which it has been a contender since 2012 - critics accuse the populist leader of imposing an autocracy by taking control over mainstream media and all state institutions.<\/p>\n<p>The EU, for its part, has said Serbia must boost rule of law and democracy freedoms in order to become a member of the 27-nation bloc.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1706314378,"updatedAt":1706374084,"publishedAt":1706344372,"firstPublishedAt":1706344377,"lastPublishedAt":1706344377,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Associated Press","altText":"People gather during protest in front of Serbia's Constitutional Court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024","callToActionText":null,"width":7259,"caption":"People gather during protest in front of Serbia's Constitutional Court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c28bfb33-11e9-59dd-9551-fe922f25a2d1-8199690.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":4840},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Associated Press","altText":"A man holds a banner that reads: \"Students Future of Serbia\" during protest in front of Serbia's Constitutional Court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.","callToActionText":null,"width":8045,"caption":"A man holds a banner that reads: \"Students Future of Serbia\" during protest in front of Serbia's Constitutional Court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/19\/96\/90\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b8a0fd19-7a20-50b4-a294-25097fa56046-8199690.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":5364}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"voting","titleRaw":"voting","id":13042,"title":"voting","slug":"voting"},{"urlSafeValue":"election","titleRaw":"Election","id":25588,"title":"Election","slug":"election"},{"urlSafeValue":"fraud","titleRaw":"Fraud","id":12415,"title":"Fraud","slug":"fraud"},{"urlSafeValue":"opposition","titleRaw":"Opposition","id":11286,"title":"Opposition","slug":"opposition"},{"urlSafeValue":"protestas","titleRaw":"Protests","id":27110,"title":"Protests","slug":"protestas"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"}],"related":[{"id":2444784},{"id":2444198}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"DJEuU5AX1Fc","dailymotionId":"x8rtwo1"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":68200,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":8986372,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/01\/27\/en\/240127_NWSU_54643149_54645607_68200_141714_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":68200,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":13412100,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/24\/01\/27\/en\/240127_NWSU_54643149_54645607_68200_141714_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gs_politics','gb_sensitive_edu','gb_sensitive_high_med','gb_sensitive_high_med_low','gb_sensitive_news-ent','gs_politics_elections','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_misc','gs_law','gs_law_misc'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"SERBS DEMAND TO ABROGATE ELECTIONS","path":"\/2024\/01\/27\/protests-against-fraudulent-elections-continue-in-belgrade","lastModified":1706344377},{"id":2456996,"cid":8174846,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240116_C2SU_54534750","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Marina Abramovi\u0107 has launched a moisturiser... Is it a performance piece?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Marina Abramovi\u0107 has launched a moisturiser - or has she?","titleListing2":"Marina Abramovi\u0107 has launched a moisturiser... is it a performance piece?","leadin":"The artist who started her career experimenting with knives, fire and unconsciousness has now released a moisturising cream. We suspect something deeper is at play.","summary":"The artist who started her career experimenting with knives, fire and unconsciousness has now released a moisturising cream. We suspect something deeper is at play.","keySentence":"","url":"marina-abramovic-has-launched-a-moisturiser-is-it-a-performance-piece","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2024\/01\/17\/marina-abramovic-has-launched-a-moisturiser-is-it-a-performance-piece","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The artist is present\u2026 and silky smooth. Yes, you read the headline right. Famed Serbian performance artist Marina Abramovi\u0107 has just launched a moisturising cream. \n\nFace-lotion is the latest new product announced in Abramovi\u0107\u2019s Longevity Method project. The moisturising cream is listed on her website at \u00a3199 (\u20ac230) and boasts ingredients like white bread, vitamin C and white wine. \n\n\u201cWith the rapid development of technology, if we human beings don\u2019t embrace simplicity in our lives, we will be lost,\u201d the packaging peddles, before continuing on a Goop-esque ramble against technology, consumerism (ironic) and in favour of the \u201cAbramovi\u0107 method.\u201d \n\nThe whole Longevity Method project is a result of Abramovi\u0107\u2019s treatment for Lyme disease by Nonna Brenner, a holistic doctor in 2017. The project is a joint venture by the artist and the doctor that requires interested consumers to subscribe for early access to a product line that also includes a grape and cranberry energy drop, a garlic and lemon immunity drop, and a liquorice allergy spray. \n\nIt\u2019s all a bit odd for the 77-year-old artist who is most famous for her pioneering conceptual art. Typically defined by the physical demands that Abramovi\u0107 imposes on herself, she is best-known for the 2010 piece \u2018The Artist is Present\u2019. \n\nAt New York\u2019s Museum of Modern Art, Abramovi\u0107 sat in a chair, still and silent, for over 736 hours. 1,545 people lined up and sat opposite Abramovi\u0107 as they engaged with her across the emotional spectrum \u2013 the only requirement of the visitors was that they do not touch or speak to the artist. \n\nMost recently, Abramovi\u0107 gave a solo show in the main galleries of the Royal Academy and has been performing in the opera \u20187 Deaths of Maria Callas\u2019 at the English National Opera, despite no prior experience in the art form. \n\nGiven her career so far, it\u2019s fair to assume there might be something up with this mysterious venture into skincare for Abramovi\u0107. \n\nIf the Longevity Method is all a big performance piece that Abramovi\u0107 is moments away from pulling the carpet out from under, what could it mean? The obvious suggestion would be some kind of commentary on consumerism, contemporary beauty culture, and an inhospitable arts milieu forcing a generational artist to succumb to a brand-deal cash grab. \n\nThe alternative might be that that\u2019s all true, but it isn\u2019t a performance piece at all. Consumerism, contemporary beauty culture and an inhospitable arts milieu have forced Abramovi\u0107 to capitulate to the same business model Instagram influencers employ. \n\nThe third alternative is also that post-Lyme disease, Abramovi\u0107 truly is besotted with this Dr Brenner character and fully believes in the rejuvenative properties of her bread-infused lotion. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>The artist is present\u2026 and silky smooth. Yes, you read the headline right. Famed Serbian performance artist <strong><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//03//31//womens-history-month-marina-abramovic-my-life-as-a-performance-artist/">Marina Abramovi\u0107<\/a><\/strong> has just launched a moisturising cream.<\/p>\n<p>Face-lotion is the latest new product announced in Abramovi\u0107\u2019s Longevity Method project. The moisturising cream is <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////abramoviclongevity.com//product//face-lotion///">listed on her website at \u00a3199 (\u20ac230) and boasts ingredients like white bread, vitamin C and white wine.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"7456428,8174730\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//03//31//womens-history-month-marina-abramovic-my-life-as-a-performance-artist/">Women's History Month - Marina Abramovi\u0107: My life as a performance artist <\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2024//01//16//jamaican-poet-jason-allen-paisant-wins-ts-eliot-prize-for-second-poetry-collection/">Jamaican poet Jason Allen-Paisant wins T.S. Eliot prize for second poetry collection<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWith the rapid development of technology, if we human beings don\u2019t embrace simplicity in our lives, we will be lost,\u201d the packaging peddles, before continuing on a Goop-esque ramble against technology, consumerism (ironic) and in favour of the \u201cAbramovi\u0107 method.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The whole Longevity Method project is a result of Abramovi\u0107\u2019s treatment for Lyme disease by Nonna Brenner, a holistic doctor in 2017. The project is a joint venture by the artist and the doctor that requires interested consumers to subscribe for early access to a product line that also includes a grape and cranberry energy drop, a garlic and lemon immunity drop, and a liquorice allergy spray.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-ease-in-up widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.8081140350877193\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//17//48//46//808x652_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg/" alt=\"The face-lotion\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/384x310_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/640x517_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/750x606_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/828x669_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/1080x873_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/1200x970_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/1920x1552_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The face-lotion<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Marina Abramovi\u0107 Longevity Method<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s all a bit odd for the 77-year-old artist who is most famous for her pioneering conceptual art. Typically defined by the physical demands that Abramovi\u0107 imposes on herself, she is best-known for the 2010 piece \u2018The Artist is Present\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>At New York\u2019s Museum of Modern Art, Abramovi\u0107 sat in a chair, still and silent, for over 736 hours. 1,545 people lined up and sat opposite Abramovi\u0107 as they engaged with her across the emotional spectrum \u2013 the only requirement of the visitors was that they do not touch or speak to the artist.<\/p>\n<p>Most recently, Abramovi\u0107 gave a solo show in the main galleries of the Royal Academy and has been <strong><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//03//31//womens-history-month-marina-abramovic-my-life-as-a-performance-artist/">performing in the opera \u20187 Deaths of Maria Callas\u2019<\/a><\/strong> at the English National Opera, despite no prior experience in the art form.<\/p>\n<p>Given her career so far, it\u2019s fair to assume there might be something up with this mysterious venture into skincare for Abramovi\u0107.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-ease-in-up widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"1.4997000599880024\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//17//48//46//808x1206_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg/" alt=\"Marina Abraomvic, left, and a visitor to the Museum of Modern Art in New York perform "The Artist is Present."\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/384x576_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/640x960_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/750x1125_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/828x1242_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/1080x1620_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/1200x1800_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/1920x2879_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Marina Abraomvic, left, and a visitor to the Museum of Modern Art in New York perform "The Artist is Present."<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Mary Altaffer\/AP2010<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If the Longevity Method is all a big performance piece that Abramovi\u0107 is moments away from pulling the carpet out from under, what could it mean? The obvious suggestion would be some kind of commentary on consumerism, contemporary beauty culture, and an inhospitable arts milieu forcing a generational artist to succumb to a brand-deal cash grab.<\/p>\n<p>The alternative might be that that\u2019s all true, but it isn\u2019t a performance piece at all. Consumerism, contemporary beauty culture and an inhospitable arts milieu have forced Abramovi\u0107 to capitulate to the same business model Instagram influencers employ.<\/p>\n<p>The third alternative is also that post-Lyme disease, Abramovi\u0107 truly is besotted with this Dr Brenner character and fully believes in the rejuvenative properties of her bread-infused lotion.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1705408553,"updatedAt":1705472171,"publishedAt":1705472141,"firstPublishedAt":1705423194,"lastPublishedAt":1705472171,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Evan Agostini\/2021 Invision","altText":"A silky-smooth Marina Abramovi\u0107 in 2021","callToActionText":null,"width":3500,"caption":"A silky-smooth Marina Abramovi\u0107 in 2021","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6cb519e0-d456-58f2-830b-631a35ba225d-8174846.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2469},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Marina Abramovi\u0107 Longevity Method ","altText":"The face-lotion","callToActionText":null,"width":912,"caption":"The face-lotion","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b17aecdc-83b3-5e51-a184-0f225a557aa3-8174846.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":737},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Mary Altaffer\/AP2010","altText":"Marina Abraomvic, left, and a visitor to the Museum of Modern Art in New York perform \"The Artist is Present.\"","callToActionText":null,"width":1667,"caption":"Marina Abraomvic, left, and a visitor to the Museum of Modern Art in New York perform \"The Artist is Present.\"","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/17\/48\/46\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_65be4f99-e9bd-5b03-8c98-345fb2e36b6c-8174846.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2500}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"walfisz","twitter":"@JonathanWalfisz","title":"Jonny Walfisz"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"fine-arts","titleRaw":"Fine arts","id":4168,"title":"Fine arts","slug":"fine-arts"},{"urlSafeValue":"performance-art","titleRaw":"Performance art","id":15436,"title":"Performance art","slug":"performance-art"},{"urlSafeValue":"beauty-product","titleRaw":"Beauty product","id":20504,"title":"Beauty product","slug":"beauty-product"},{"urlSafeValue":"wellness-beauty","titleRaw":"Wellness beauty","id":20492,"title":"Wellness beauty","slug":"wellness-beauty"},{"urlSafeValue":"sanatc-","titleRaw":"artist","id":16196,"title":"artist","slug":"sanatc-"}],"widgets":[{"count":2,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2378474}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news","online":0,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-news\/culture-news"},"vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"culture","id":10,"title":"Culture","slug":"culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","id":"culture-news","title":"Culture news","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":53,"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','pos_ukrainecrisis','gs_fineart','gs_fooddrink','gs_entertain_arts','gs_healthylvng','eap-gs-homerfaber-fs-30july19','gs_fashion_beauty_skincare','gs_fashion_beauty','gt_positive','gs_tech_compute','gs_fineart_modernart','neg_mobkoi_castrol'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"Culture - Marina Abramovi\u0107 has launched a moisturiser","path":"\/culture\/2024\/01\/17\/marina-abramovic-has-launched-a-moisturiser-is-it-a-performance-piece","lastModified":1705472171},{"id":2452996,"cid":8162058,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240110_CMSU_54479209","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"\u2018They had nothing to eat\u2019: Farmers rescue nearly 200 cows and horses stuck on a Serbian river island","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Cows and horses trapped by rising river rescued from extreme cold","titleListing2":"\u2018Finally some good news\u2019: Serbian authorities help farmers rescue animals trapped by extreme weather","leadin":"Farmers and authorities have teamed up to rescue nearly 200 cows and horses stuck on a Serbian river island.","summary":"Farmers and authorities have teamed up to rescue nearly 200 cows and horses stuck on a Serbian river island.","keySentence":"","url":"finally-some-good-news-serbian-authorities-help-farmers-rescue-animals-trapped-by-extreme-","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2024\/01\/10\/finally-some-good-news-serbian-authorities-help-farmers-rescue-animals-trapped-by-extreme-","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Serbian authorities on Tuesday started evacuating nearly 200 animals that have been stranded on a river island for weeks.\u00a0 \n\nThe cows, calves and horses were facing hunger and cold as temperatures dropped.\u00a0They got stuck on the Krcedinska Ada island in the middle of the Danube river after water levels rose sharply last month, blocking their way back to the shore. \n\nThe Danube is Europe's biggest river, flowing through a number of countries, including Serbia. Krcedinska Ada island is located about 50 kilometres north of the capital, Belgrade. \n\nSerbia's weather extremes caught farmers by surprise \n\nThe weather was unseasonably warm in Serbia for weeks late last year, and the Danube had swollen due to the melting of snow upstream. This week, warm weather gave way to a spate of snowy and freezing weather that swept the Balkan region. \n\nLocal farmers in the vicinity of Krcedinska Ada said they were caught by surprise by the rising Danube during the warm and dry period. With the weather conditions worsening, the animals are in danger, says Milenko Plavsic, who owns some of the cattle. \n\n\u201cThe cattle are in jeopardy. Some died,\" he says. Normally, he adds, the animals would walk back on their own through shallow waters and return home, some 10 kilometres away. \n\n\"The cattle are hungry, water levels are huge so they had nothing to eat.\u201d \n\nThe animals are being transported to safety on river rafts \n\nLocal authorities brought over a fenced river raft so the animals would be safe during transport . It will take several trips to bring back all the animals. \n\nThe Serbian government's Ministry of Agriculture has said that a total of 97 cows, 40 calves and 70 horses were stranded on Krcedinska Ada. The distance from the shore is up to 3 kilometres. Most of the animals are privately owned, officials said. \n\nLocals were relieved and grateful for the help: \u201cFinally some good news!\u201d said Zoran Kunic, who heads a cattle-breeders association in the area. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Serbian authorities on Tuesday started evacuating nearly 200 animals that have been stranded on a river island for weeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The cows, calves and horses were facing hunger and cold as temperatures dropped.\u00a0They got stuck on the Krcedinska Ada island in the middle of the Danube river after water levels rose sharply last month, blocking their way back to the shore.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2022//08//11//in-pictures-europes-mighty-rivers-are-drying-up-in-the-climate-driven-drought/">Danube is Europe's biggest river, flowing through a number of countries, including Serbia. Krcedinska Ada island is located about 50 kilometres north of the capital, Belgrade.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-ease-in-up widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//16//20//58//808x454_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg/" alt=\"Horses feed on a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January2024.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/384x216_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/640x360_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/750x422_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/828x466_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1080x608_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1200x675_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1920x1080_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Horses feed on a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January2024.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Serbia's weather extremes caught farmers by surprise<\/h2><p>The weather was unseasonably <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2023//01//23//hungary-serbia-bosnia-and-herzegovina-eastern-european-rivers-flood-after-extraordinary-we/">warm in Serbia for weeks late last year, and the Danube had swollen due to the melting of snow upstream. This week, warm weather gave way to a spate of snowy and freezing weather that swept the Balkan region.<\/p>\n<p>Local <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//07//17//climate-change-takes-its-toll-in-serbia-as-crops-suffer-after-extreme-heat-follows-floodin/">farmers in the vicinity of Krcedinska Ada said they were caught by surprise by the rising Danube during the warm and dry period. With the weather conditions worsening, the animals are in danger, says Milenko Plavsic, who owns some of the cattle.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-ease-in-up widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//16//20//58//808x454_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg/" alt=\"Cows eat and float on a barge from a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January2024.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/384x216_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/640x360_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/750x422_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/828x466_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1080x608_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1200x675_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1920x1080_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Cows eat and float on a barge from a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January2024.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2023//07//17//feeding-daffodil-extract-to-cows-could-reduce-methane-emissions/">cattle are in jeopardy. Some died,\" he says. Normally, he adds, the animals would walk back on their own through shallow waters and return home, some 10 kilometres away.<\/p>\n<p>\"The cattle are hungry, water levels are huge so they had nothing to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8153404,8145900\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2024//01//06//el-nino-failed-crops-and-more-extreme-weather-the-uns-predictions-and-recommendations-for-/">El Ni\u00f1o, failed crops and more extreme weather: The UN's predictions- and recommendations- for 2024<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2024//01//02//should-conservation-funding-be-taken-from-popular-animals-and-given-to-overlooked-species/">Should conservation funding be taken from popular animals and given to overlooked species?<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-ease-in-up widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//16//20//58//808x454_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg/" alt=\"Farmers transport cows from a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/384x216_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/640x360_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/750x422_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/828x466_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1080x608_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1200x675_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1920x1080_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Farmers transport cows from a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>The animals are being transported to safety on river rafts<\/h2><p>Local authorities brought over a fenced river raft so the animals would be safe during <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2023//08//04//heatwaves-and-animal-welfare-the-ethics-of-livestock-farming-on-a-warming-planet/">transport. It will take several trips to bring back all the animals.<\/p>\n<p>The Serbian government's Ministry of Agriculture has said that a total of 97 cows, 40 calves and 70 <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2023//07//15//what-is-equine-therapy-this-paradise-island-promises-healing-through-horses/">horses were stranded on Krcedinska Ada. The distance from the shore is up to 3 kilometres. Most of the animals are privately owned, officials said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-ease-in-up widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//16//20//58//808x454_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg/" alt=\"After being trapped for weeks by high waters on a Serbian river island, cows and horses are being evacuated.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/384x216_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/640x360_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/750x422_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/828x466_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1080x608_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1200x675_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/1920x1080_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">After being trapped for weeks by high waters on a Serbian river island, cows and horses are being evacuated.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Locals were relieved and grateful for the help: \u201cFinally some good news!\u201d said Zoran Kunic, who heads a <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2023//11//30//dutch-farmers-could-be-paid-to-close-their-livestock-farms-under-new-scheme/">cattle-breeders association in the area.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1704881826,"updatedAt":1704902472,"publishedAt":1704902426,"firstPublishedAt":1704885275,"lastPublishedAt":1704902472,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic","altText":"Cows stand on the barge on the bank of a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January 2024. ","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Cows stand on the barge on the bank of a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January 2024. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a1d77fa8-5aea-566d-bfb6-fb1b5482b5a5-8162058.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic","altText":"After being trapped for weeks by high waters on a Serbian river island, cows and horses are being evacuated.","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"After being trapped for weeks by high waters on a Serbian river island, cows and horses are being evacuated.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b9d91a47-1de5-5a59-9d51-109ea162ee6c-8162058.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic","altText":"Farmers transport cows from a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river.","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Farmers transport cows from a flooded river island Krcedinska Ada on the Danube river.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3232dc3d-168b-5f12-99f8-726370bb91d3-8162058.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic","altText":"Horses feed on a flooded river island Krcedinska ada on Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January2024. ","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Horses feed on a flooded river island Krcedinska ada on Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January2024. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_405a6fc4-2b33-52ba-95d8-87edbcdb66fb-8162058.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic","altText":"Cows eat and float on a barge from a flooded river island Krcedinska ada on Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January2024. ","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Cows eat and float on a barge from a flooded river island Krcedinska ada on Danube river, 50 kilometres north-west of Belgrade, Serbia, 9 January2024. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/16\/20\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d84c9b8f-5f92-5c24-bc23-9ec417e85bb9-8162058.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"symons","twitter":null,"title":"Angela Symons"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"extreme-weather","titleRaw":"Extreme weather","id":17856,"title":"Extreme weather","slug":"extreme-weather"},{"urlSafeValue":"sel-bask-n-","titleRaw":"Floods","id":14972,"title":"Floods","slug":"sel-bask-n-"},{"urlSafeValue":"snow","titleRaw":"Snow","id":13848,"title":"Snow","slug":"snow"},{"urlSafeValue":"animals","titleRaw":"Animals","id":10233,"title":"Animals","slug":"animals"},{"urlSafeValue":"farmers","titleRaw":"Farmers","id":18298,"title":"Farmers","slug":"farmers"}],"widgets":[{"count":4,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2457078},{"id":2462672}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Marko Drobnjakovic","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"climate","urlSafeValue":"climate","title":"Climate","online":0,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/climate\/climate"},"vertical":"green","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"green","id":8,"title":"Green","slug":"green"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":8,"slug":"green","urlSafeValue":"green","title":"Green"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"climate","id":"climate","title":"Climate","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/climate"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":34,"urlSafeValue":"climate","title":"Climate"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gv_safe','gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','pos_ukrainecrisis','gs_science','neg_mobkoi_castrol','gs_busfin','gs_busfin_indus','gs_business','neg_facebook','gs_busfin_indus_agriculture','gs_business_agri','gs_science_weather','gs_science_geography','neg_saudiaramco','gt_mixed','progressivemedia','neg_facebook_q4'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"GREEN_Nearly 200 cows and horses stuck on a Serbian river island in cold weather are being rescued","path":"\/green\/2024\/01\/10\/finally-some-good-news-serbian-authorities-help-farmers-rescue-animals-trapped-by-extreme-","lastModified":1704902472},{"id":2449356,"cid":8151170,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"240104_NWSU_54433013","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Could Serbia bring back mandatory military service? ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Could Serbia bring back the draft? ","titleListing2":"Could Serbia bring back mandatory military service? ","leadin":"Serbia's army is proposing bringing back the draft as tensions continue to rise in the Balkan region.","summary":"Serbia's army is proposing bringing back the draft as tensions continue to rise in the Balkan region.","keySentence":"","url":"could-serbia-bring-back-the-mandatory-military-service","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2024\/01\/04\/could-serbia-bring-back-the-mandatory-military-service","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Serbia should reintroduce compulsory military service, the country\u2019s defence ministry has announced, as tensions continue to escalate in the Balkans. \n\nThe ministry said in a statement that the proposal for service of up to four months is made \u201cto increase the defence capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces, through the rejuvenation and improvement in the training of the active and reserve forces.\u201d \n\nIt said the proposal by the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff comes after \"a detailed consideration of the general security situation and current challenges faced by the Republic of Serbia as a militarily neutral country.\" \n\nIt added that the proposal was forwarded to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, for his consideration. \n\nIt did not specify the age of potential draftees. \n\nSerbia suspended mandatory military service in 2011 amid the push to professionalise the armed forces. \n\nNow, though the country appears close to bringing back the draft after a long campaign in favour of it - despite concerns that the government may struggle to foot the bill for such a massive recruitment. \n\nIn the 1990s, the region went through a bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia. \n\nTensions have been high in the Balkans since then. \n\nAlthough formally neutral, the Serbian army has maintained close ties to Russia from where it has been purchasing most of its arms, including fighter jets and tanks. \n\nDespite formally seeking European Union membership, Serbia has refused to introduce sanctions against Russia for its aggression on Ukraine. \n\nTensions have revolved primarily around Serbia's former province of Kosovo which declared independence in 2008 - something that Serbia and allies Russia and China do not recognise. \n\nBelgrade has raised its forces' combat readiness on the border with Kosovo several times over the past several months. \n\nSerbia has also maintained cordial relations with NATO whose peacekeeping troops have been stationed in Kosovo since 1999 when the Western military alliance intervened to stop Belgrade's bloody crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists. \n\nAnother volatile region is Bosnia where a Bosnian-Serb separatist leader has been threatening to declare the Serb-controlled half of Bosnia independent and to unite it with neighbouring Serbia. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Serbia should reintroduce compulsory military service, the country\u2019s defence ministry has announced, as tensions continue to escalate in the Balkans.<\/p>\n<p>The ministry said in a statement that the proposal for service of up to four months is made \u201cto increase the defence capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces, through the rejuvenation and improvement in the training of the active and reserve forces.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It said the proposal by the Serbian Armed Forces General Staff comes after \"a detailed consideration of the general security situation and current challenges faced by the Republic of Serbia as a militarily neutral country.\"<\/p>\n<p>It added that the proposal was forwarded to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, for his consideration.<\/p>\n<p>It did not specify the age of potential draftees.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia suspended mandatory military service in 2011 amid the push to professionalise the armed forces.<\/p>\n<p>Now, though the country appears close to bringing back the draft after a long campaign in favour of it - despite concerns that the government may struggle to foot the bill for such a massive recruitment.<\/p>\n<p>In the 1990s, the region went through a bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n<p>Tensions have been high in the Balkans since then.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1736393630808408067\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Although formally neutral, the Serbian army has maintained close ties to Russia from where it has been purchasing most of its arms, including fighter jets and tanks.<\/p>\n<p>Despite formally seeking European Union membership, Serbia has refused to introduce sanctions against Russia for its aggression on Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Tensions have revolved primarily around Serbia's former province of Kosovo which declared independence in 2008 - something that Serbia and allies Russia and China do not recognise.<\/p>\n<p>Belgrade has raised its forces' combat readiness on the border with Kosovo several times over the past several months.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia has also maintained cordial relations with NATO whose peacekeeping troops have been stationed in Kosovo since 1999 when the Western military alliance intervened to stop Belgrade's bloody crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists.<\/p>\n<p>Another volatile region is Bosnia where a Bosnian-Serb separatist leader has been threatening to declare the Serb-controlled half of Bosnia independent and to unite it with neighbouring Serbia.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1704374763,"updatedAt":1704378530,"publishedAt":1704376525,"firstPublishedAt":1704376527,"lastPublishedAt":1704376545,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Darko Vojinovic\/File","altText":"Serbian Army soldiers perform during a military parade at the military airport Batajnica, near Belgrade, Serbia in 2019","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Serbian Army soldiers perform during a military parade at the military airport Batajnica, near Belgrade, Serbia in 2019","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/15\/11\/70\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_fb5888dc-c97e-5a4d-b2dc-40e524e7f3dd-8151170.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"balkans","titleRaw":"Balkans","id":18,"title":"Balkans","slug":"balkans"},{"urlSafeValue":"kosovo","titleRaw":"Kosovo","id":343,"title":"Kosovo","slug":"kosovo"},{"urlSafeValue":"former-yugoslavia","titleRaw":"Former Yugoslavia","id":15748,"title":"Former Yugoslavia","slug":"former-yugoslavia"},{"urlSafeValue":"aleksandar-vucic","titleRaw":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","id":13964,"title":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"twitter"}],"related":[{"id":2444198}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"euronews.byenglishwebteam"},{"path":"euronews"}],"externalPartners":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world 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BALKANS SERBIA ARMY DRAFT","path":"\/2024\/01\/04\/could-serbia-bring-back-the-mandatory-military-service","lastModified":1704376545},{"id":2444198,"cid":8134458,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"231226_NWSU_54350897","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbian police detain at least 38, opposition continue protests against election results","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Thousands continue to protest against election result in Serbia","titleListing2":"The \"Serbia Against Violence\" party called on citizens to applaud the students and their struggle.","leadin":"The \"Serbia Against Violence\" party called on citizens to applaud the students and their struggle.","summary":"The \"Serbia Against Violence\" party called on citizens to applaud the students and their struggle.","keySentence":"","url":"serbian-protesters-gather-outside-police-station-in-belgrade","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/12\/26\/serbian-protesters-gather-outside-police-station-in-belgrade","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Thousands gathered in front of a Belgrade police station on Monday evening in support of those arrested the previous day during protests against what they say was electoral fraud in Serbia's recent parliamentary and local elections. \n\nSerbian police said on Monday they have detained nearly 40 people who took part in demonstrations. \n\nIt marked the eighth consecutive day of protests, which unlike Sunday's demonstrations were peaceful despite having started with roadblocks in the capital and later a gathering in front of the state electoral commission building. \n\n\"See you tomorrow at 6 pm,\" Srdjan Milivojevic, a deputy from the opposition \"Serbia against violence\" coalition said late Monday, signalling protesters would reconvene. \n\nSerbian President Aleksandar Vucic had denounced violence in the capital the previous evening, when opposition demonstrators had tried to storm Belgrade city hall and clashed with police. \n\nVucic said there was evidence the violence had been planned in advance. \n\nMoscow on Monday also accused the West of interfering, suggesting that foreign actors were trying to stir up the unrest. \n\nEarlier Monday, Vucic met the Russian ambassador in Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko and briefed him on Sunday's incidents. \n\nVucic is walking a difficult line balancing between East and West, vowing to keep Serbia on a course for European Union membership while also remaining friendly with Russia and courting Beijing and Washington. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Thousands gathered in front of a Belgrade police station on Monday evening in support of those arrested the previous day during protests against what they say was electoral fraud in Serbia's recent parliamentary and local elections.<\/p>\n<p>Serbian police said on Monday they have detained nearly 40 people who took part in demonstrations.<\/p>\n<p>It marked the eighth consecutive day of protests, which unlike Sunday's demonstrations were peaceful despite having started with roadblocks in the capital and later a gathering in front of the state electoral commission building.<\/p>\n<p>\"See you tomorrow at 6 pm,\" Srdjan Milivojevic, a deputy from the opposition \"Serbia against violence\" coalition said late Monday, signalling protesters would reconvene.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.666015625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//13//44//58//808x539_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg/" alt=\"A demonstrator blows a whistle as opposition supporters take part in a march during a protest in Belgrade, on December 25, 2023, a week after the generl election.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/384x256_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/640x426_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/750x500_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/828x551_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/1080x719_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/1200x799_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/1920x1279_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A demonstrator blows a whistle as opposition supporters take part in a march during a protest in Belgrade, on December 25, 2023, a week after the generl election.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">ANDREJ ISAKOVIC\/AFP or licensors<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had denounced violence in the capital the previous evening, when opposition demonstrators had tried to storm Belgrade city hall and clashed with police.<\/p>\n<p>Vucic said there was evidence the violence had been planned in advance.<\/p>\n<p>Moscow on Monday also accused the West of interfering, suggesting that foreign actors were trying to stir up the unrest.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8133768,8132714\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//12//25//students-block-key-roads-in-belgrade-as-protests-continue/">Students block key roads in Belgrade as protests continue<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//12//25//serbian-police-fire-tear-gas-at-protesters-threatening-to-storm-city-hall/">Serbian police fire tear gas at protesters threatening to storm city hall<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Earlier Monday, Vucic met the Russian ambassador in Belgrade Alexander Botsan-Kharchenko and briefed him on Sunday's incidents.<\/p>\n<p>Vucic is walking a difficult line balancing between East and West, vowing to keep Serbia on a course for European Union membership while also remaining friendly with Russia and courting Beijing and Washington.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1703543581,"updatedAt":1703580670,"publishedAt":1703577079,"firstPublishedAt":1703577082,"lastPublishedAt":1703578851,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"ANDREJ ISAKOVIC\/AFP","altText":"A student holds a placard during a protest in Belgrade, on December 25, 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":4088,"caption":"A student holds a placard during a protest in Belgrade, on December 25, 2023","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_47867e4c-2f0b-59fc-9285-3225ce3ba807-8134458.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":2298},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"ANDREJ ISAKOVIC\/AFP or licensors","altText":"A demonstrator blows a whistle as opposition supporters take part in a march during a protest in Belgrade, on December 25, 2023, a week after the generl election.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"A demonstrator blows a whistle as opposition supporters take part in a march during a protest in Belgrade, on December 25, 2023, a week after the generl election.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/58\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_33527fc1-adc6-528b-862b-463676938b61-8134458.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":682},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"ANDREJ ISAKOVIC\/AFP","altText":"\"Serbia Against Violence\" (SPN) opposition coalition, addresses supporters as opposition supporters take part in a march during a protest in Belgrade, on December 25, 2023.","callToActionText":null,"width":800,"caption":"\"Serbia Against Violence\" (SPN) opposition coalition, addresses supporters as opposition supporters take part in a march during a protest in Belgrade, on December 25, 2023.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/44\/66\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0074eb47-b8ae-5913-a83a-4dabc42e4348-8134466.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":533}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"aleksandar-vucic","titleRaw":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","id":13964,"title":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"},{"urlSafeValue":"electoral-fraud","titleRaw":"Electoral fraud","id":9285,"title":"Electoral fraud","slug":"electoral-fraud"},{"urlSafeValue":"protest","titleRaw":"Protest","id":4378,"title":"Protest","slug":"protest"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2444366},{"id":2449356},{"id":2464934}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"7fnFbO-qxz4","dailymotionId":"x8qw2dz"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":80000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":10295145,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/26\/en\/231226_NWSU_54350897_54350924_80000_094705_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":80000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":14990697,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/26\/en\/231226_NWSU_54350897_54350924_80000_094705_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AFP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":{"id":4134,"urlSafeValue":"belgrade","title":"Belgrade"},"grapeshot":"'gb_safe_from_high','gs_politics','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_politics_elections','gb_crime_edu','gb_crime_high_med_low','gv_crime','gb_sensitive_edu','gb_sensitive_high_med','gb_sensitive_high_med_low','gb_sensitive_news-ent','gt_negative','gs_politics_misc','gs_society_misc','gs_society'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"SERBIA PROTESTS CONTINUE","path":"\/2023\/12\/26\/serbian-protesters-gather-outside-police-station-in-belgrade","lastModified":1703578851},{"id":2443924,"cid":8133768,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"231225_NWSU_54348085","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Students block key roads in Belgrade as protests continue","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Students block key roads in Belgrade as protests continue","titleListing2":"Serbian police said Monday they had detained at least 38 people who took part in Sunday's protest against reported widespread voting irregularities.","leadin":"Serbian police said Monday they had detained at least 38 people who took part in Sunday's protest against reported widespread voting irregularities.","summary":"Serbian police said Monday they had detained at least 38 people who took part in Sunday's protest against reported widespread voting irregularities.","keySentence":"","url":"students-block-key-roads-in-belgrade-as-protests-continue","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/12\/25\/students-block-key-roads-in-belgrade-as-protests-continue","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Several hundred Serbian university students and other citizens have blocked traffic at a key Belgrade street that hosts government headquarters, braving a police warning against the blockades of roads and bridges in the capital. \n\nSerbian police said on Monday they have detained nearly 40 people who took part in a protest against what election observers said were widespread irregularities during a recent general ballot. \n\nThat ballot declared the governing populists winners of the parliamentary and local councils' elections. \n\nClaiming election fraud, particularly in the capital, Belgrade, opposition group Serbia Against Violence has been staging protests since the 17 December elections while some politicians began a hunger strike to protest the results. \n\nOn Sunday evening, some protesters tried to enter Belgarde's city council building before riot police they were pushed back by riot police. \n\nSerbia's officials thanked the Russian security services for providing them information on the opposition protests. \n\nWith more protests planned for later on Monday, police warned they would prevent any blockades of roads or bridges in Belgrade, the capital. \n\nProtesters on Sunday evening tried to enter the city council building before they were pushed away by riot police. \n\nThe country\u2019s populist authorities have denied rigging the vote and described the election to fill parliament and local offices as fair despite criticism by a group of international monitors and local election observers. \n\nPresident Aleksandar Vucic has described Sunday\u2019s demonstrations as an attempt to overthrow the government with the help from abroad. \n\nSerbia\u2019s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Monday thanked Russia for tipping off Serbia in advance that an alleged uprising was in the works. \n\nSerbia is formally seeking membership in the European Union but the Balkan nation has maintained close ties with Moscow and has refused to join Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the aggression on Ukraine. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Several hundred Serbian university students and other citizens have blocked traffic at a key Belgrade street that hosts government headquarters, braving a police warning against the blockades of roads and bridges in the capital.<\/p>\n<p>Serbian police said on Monday they have detained nearly 40 people who took part in a protest against what election observers said were widespread irregularities during a recent general ballot.<\/p>\n<p>That ballot declared the governing populists winners of the parliamentary and local councils' elections.<\/p>\n<p>Claiming election fraud, particularly in the capital, Belgrade, opposition group Serbia Against Violence has been staging protests since the 17 December elections while some politicians began a hunger strike to protest the results.<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday evening, some protesters tried to enter Belgarde's city council building before riot police they were pushed back by riot police.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1739232173712965913\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Serbia's officials thanked the Russian security services for providing them information on the opposition protests.<\/p>\n<p>With more protests planned for later on Monday, police warned they would prevent any blockades of roads or bridges in Belgrade, the capital.<\/p>\n<p>Protesters on Sunday evening tried to enter the city council building before they were pushed away by riot police.<\/p>\n<p>The country\u2019s populist authorities have denied rigging the vote and described the election to fill parliament and local offices as fair despite criticism by a group of international monitors and local election observers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//13//27//28//808x539_cmsv2_d535ac8b-daae-5fe0-9589-d04a9387c5f5-8132728.jpg/" alt=\"Protesters clash with anti-riot police in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/27\/28\/384x256_cmsv2_d535ac8b-daae-5fe0-9589-d04a9387c5f5-8132728.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/27\/28\/640x427_cmsv2_d535ac8b-daae-5fe0-9589-d04a9387c5f5-8132728.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/27\/28\/750x500_cmsv2_d535ac8b-daae-5fe0-9589-d04a9387c5f5-8132728.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/27\/28\/828x552_cmsv2_d535ac8b-daae-5fe0-9589-d04a9387c5f5-8132728.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/27\/28\/1080x720_cmsv2_d535ac8b-daae-5fe0-9589-d04a9387c5f5-8132728.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/27\/28\/1200x800_cmsv2_d535ac8b-daae-5fe0-9589-d04a9387c5f5-8132728.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/27\/28\/1920x1281_cmsv2_d535ac8b-daae-5fe0-9589-d04a9387c5f5-8132728.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Protesters clash with anti-riot police in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>President Aleksandar Vucic has described Sunday\u2019s demonstrations as an attempt to overthrow the government with the help from abroad.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia\u2019s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Monday thanked Russia for tipping off Serbia in advance that an alleged uprising was in the works.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia is formally seeking membership in the European Union but the Balkan nation has maintained close ties with Moscow and has refused to join Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the aggression on Ukraine.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1703510489,"updatedAt":1703521086,"publishedAt":1703519447,"firstPublishedAt":1703519451,"lastPublishedAt":1703519451,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"Students block one of the main streets during a protest in central Belgrade, on December 25, 2023, a week after the parliamentary and local elections in Serbia.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Students block one of the main streets during a protest in central Belgrade, on December 25, 2023, a week after the parliamentary and local elections in Serbia.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/13\/37\/68\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_086643cf-2fbd-5647-9109-9c5837fc82d0-8133768.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":682}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"protestas","titleRaw":"Protests","id":27110,"title":"Protests","slug":"protestas"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"twitter"}],"related":[{"id":2438430},{"id":2439880},{"id":2446820}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"YFRMBQx7KiU","dailymotionId":"x8qvjdi"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":75000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":10046824,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/25\/en\/231225_NWSU_54348085_54348112_75000_171107_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":75000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":15068008,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/25\/en\/231225_NWSU_54348085_54348112_75000_171107_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world 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PROTESTS MONDAY","path":"\/2023\/12\/25\/students-block-key-roads-in-belgrade-as-protests-continue","lastModified":1703519451},{"id":2438430,"cid":8118768,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"231219_NWSU_54275410","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbian opposition leaders and protesters rally in Belgrade claiming election was rigged","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Serbian opposition leaders and protesters rally in Belgrade claiming election was rigged","leadin":"Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party won the parliamentary vote, however, in the Belgrade local election, an opposition group said it was robbed, and demanded a rerun of the ballot.","summary":"Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party won the parliamentary vote, however, in the Belgrade local election, an opposition group said it was robbed, and demanded a rerun of the ballot.","keySentence":"","url":"serbian-opposition-leaders-and-protesters-rally-in-belgrade-claiming-election-was-rigged","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/12\/19\/serbian-opposition-leaders-and-protesters-rally-in-belgrade-claiming-election-was-rigged","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Opponents of Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic took to the streets claiming the weekend's snap elections were rigged as international observers said on Monday the vote was held in \u201cunjust conditions\" with multiple reports of irregularities. \n\nPolitical tensions have spiked in the Balkan country over the parliamentary and local elections on Sunday. \n\nIn Belgrade, several thousand people gathered in front of the state election commission headquarters, chanting \u201cthieves,\u201d as opposition leaders moved to lodge formal complaints claiming fraud in the city election. \n\n\"We should not be silent about this,\" said student Danica Samardzic who took part in the demonstrations. \n\n\"This protest is just the beginning of something bigger, so we can achieve the goals that made us come out here.\" \n\n\u201cWe have hundreds and hundreds of complaints,\" said opposition politician Marinika Tepic. \n\nShe and several other opposition politicians would camp inside the building that's the seat of the state election commission. \n\nVucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party won the parliamentary vote, an early official count confirmed. \n\nHowever, in the Belgrade local election, an opposition group said it was robbed, would not recognize the results and would demand a rerun of the ballot. \n\nThe Serbian president appeared on state RTS television on Monday evening, stating that the \u201celection was fair\u201d and that he wanted \"to tell the people not to worry ... peace, law and order will prevail.\u201d \n\nIn a preliminary statement, a mission made up of representatives of international rights watchdogs said the vote was \u201cmarred by harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources.\u201d \n\n\u201cElection day was smoothly conducted, but was marked by numerous procedural deficiencies, including inconsistent application of safeguards during voting and counting, frequent instances of overcrowding, breaches in secrecy of the vote, and numerous instances of group voting,\u201d the conclusions said. \n\nVucic, who has been in power since 2012, has dismissed criticism from his opponents that his government curbed democratic freedoms while allowing corruption and organized crime to run rampant. \n\nUnder Vucic, Serbia became a candidate for EU membership, but the opposition accuses the bloc of turning a blind eye to the country's democratic shortcomings in return for stability in the Balkan region, still troubled after the wars of the 1990s. \n\nThe election pitted Vucic's SNS against the Serbia Against Violence opposition alliance, or SPN. \n\nVucic's party won nearly 47 per cent of the ballots in the parliamentary vote, followed by Serbia Against Violence with 23 per cent, according to a near-complete preliminary tally by the state election commission. \n\nSeveral other smaller parties also competed in the election, which was held only 18 months after the previous presidential and parliamentary vote. \n\nIf confirmed in the final vote count, the result means that the SNS party will have an absolute majority in the 250-member parliament and will form the next government on its own. \n\nOfficial results for the city hall in Belgrade are yet to be announced, but projections by polling agencies IPSOS and CESID said SNS won 38 per cent of the ballots, while Serbia Against Violence garnered 35 per cent. \n\nIrregularities also were reported by election monitors and independent media in Serbia. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Opponents of Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic took to the streets claiming the weekend's snap elections were rigged as international observers said on Monday the vote was held in \u201cunjust conditions\" with multiple reports of irregularities.<\/p>\n<p>Political tensions have spiked in the Balkan country over the parliamentary and local elections on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>In Belgrade, several thousand people gathered in front of the state election commission headquarters, chanting \u201cthieves,\u201d as opposition leaders moved to lodge formal complaints claiming fraud in the city election.<\/p>\n<p>\"We should not be silent about this,\" said student Danica Samardzic who took part in the demonstrations.<\/p>\n<p>\"This protest is just the beginning of something bigger, so we can achieve the goals that made us come out here.\"<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have hundreds and hundreds of complaints,\" said opposition politician Marinika Tepic.<\/p>\n<p>She and several other opposition politicians would camp inside the building that's the seat of the state election commission.<\/p>\n<p>Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party won the parliamentary vote, an early official count confirmed.<\/p>\n<p>However, in the Belgrade local election, an opposition group said it was robbed, would not recognize the results and would demand a rerun of the ballot.<\/p>\n<p>The Serbian president appeared on state RTS television on Monday evening, stating that the \u201celection was fair\u201d and that he wanted \"to tell the people not to worry ... peace, law and order will prevail.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a preliminary statement, a mission made up of representatives of international rights watchdogs said the vote was \u201cmarred by harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cElection day was smoothly conducted, but was marked by numerous procedural deficiencies, including inconsistent application of safeguards during voting and counting, frequent instances of overcrowding, breaches in secrecy of the vote, and numerous instances of group voting,\u201d the conclusions said.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8121394,8116156,8115494\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//12//17//serbias-ruling-populists-claim-sweeping-victory-in-the-countrys-parliamentary-election/">Serbia's ruling populists claim sweeping election victory<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2023//12//19//brussels-calls-on-serbia-to-probe-electoral-fraud-reports/">Brussels calls on Serbia to probe electoral fraud reports<\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//12//17//serbias-populists-look-to-further-tighten-grip-on-power-in-tense-election/">Serbia's populists look to further tighten grip on power in tense election<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vucic, who has been in power since 2012, has dismissed criticism from his opponents that his government curbed democratic freedoms while allowing corruption and organized crime to run rampant.<\/p>\n<p>Under Vucic, Serbia became a candidate for EU membership, but the opposition accuses the bloc of turning a blind eye to the country's democratic shortcomings in return for stability in the Balkan region, still troubled after the wars of the 1990s.<\/p>\n<p>The election pitted Vucic's SNS against the Serbia Against Violence opposition alliance, or SPN.<\/p>\n<p>Vucic's party won nearly 47 per cent of the ballots in the parliamentary vote, followed by Serbia Against Violence with 23 per cent, according to a near-complete preliminary tally by the state election commission.<\/p>\n<p>Several other smaller parties also competed in the election, which was held only 18 months after the previous presidential and parliamentary vote.<\/p>\n<p>If confirmed in the final vote count, the result means that the SNS party will have an absolute majority in the 250-member parliament and will form the next government on its own.<\/p>\n<p>Official results for the city hall in Belgrade are yet to be announced, but projections by polling agencies IPSOS and CESID said SNS won 38 per cent of the ballots, while Serbia Against Violence garnered 35 per cent.<\/p>\n<p>Irregularities also were reported by election monitors and independent media in Serbia.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1702927280,"updatedAt":1703011144,"publishedAt":1703010829,"firstPublishedAt":1703010833,"lastPublishedAt":1703010833,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved","altText":"Serbian opposition supporters protest outside the country's electoral commission in Belgrade","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Serbian opposition supporters protest outside the country's electoral commission in Belgrade","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/87\/76\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a3b6e4eb-58b6-5c43-9471-77f5d011acdf-8118776.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"euronewsdigital","twitter":null,"title":"Greta Ruffino"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"aleksandar-vucic","titleRaw":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","id":13964,"title":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"},{"urlSafeValue":"belgrade","titleRaw":"Belgrade","id":1731,"title":"Belgrade","slug":"belgrade"},{"urlSafeValue":"opposition","titleRaw":"Opposition","id":11286,"title":"Opposition","slug":"opposition"},{"urlSafeValue":"elections","titleRaw":"Elections","id":11939,"title":"Elections","slug":"elections"},{"urlSafeValue":"electoral-fraud","titleRaw":"Electoral fraud","id":9285,"title":"Electoral fraud","slug":"electoral-fraud"}],"widgets":[{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2437256},{"id":2441042},{"id":2443924}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"Pq-RbBZVy8Q","dailymotionId":"x8qpxj7"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":115000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":14899042,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/19\/en\/231219_NWSU_54275410_54275509_115000_170937_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":115000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":22658914,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/19\/en\/231219_NWSU_54275410_54275509_115000_170937_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":{"id":4134,"urlSafeValue":"belgrade","title":"Belgrade"},"grapeshot":"'gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','gs_politics','gs_politics_elections','gs_politics_misc','gs_politics_issues_policy','gt_positive','gb_crime_edu','gb_crime_high_med_low','gv_crime','gs_politics_civicaffairs','gt_positive_happiness'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"SERBIA OPPOSITION PROTEST","path":"\/2023\/12\/19\/serbian-opposition-leaders-and-protesters-rally-in-belgrade-claiming-election-was-rigged","lastModified":1703010833},{"id":2439784,"cid":8121108,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":"231219_C2SU_54282753","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Black Eyed Peas to headline EXIT Festival 2024","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Black Eyed Peas to headline EXIT Festival 2024","titleListing2":"Black Eyed Peas to headline EXIT Festival 2024","leadin":"The rap-pop group lead a stacked line-up for Serbia's biggest music festival.","summary":"The rap-pop group lead a stacked line-up for Serbia's biggest music festival.","keySentence":"","url":"black-eyed-peas-to-headline-exit-festival-2024","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2023\/12\/19\/black-eyed-peas-to-headline-exit-festival-2024","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"EXIT Festival has announced its 2024 line-up as part of a new theme for the Serbian music festival. \n\nBlack Eyed Peas, Tom Morello, Gucci Mane, Carl Cox and Bonobo will headline the 2024 edition of the festival. Set in the Petrovaradin Fortress of Novi Sad, Serbia\u2019s second-biggest city, EXIT will run from 10 to 14 July next year. \n\nThe new theme of the festival will be EXIT Starseed!\u00a0 \n\nThis year, Euronews Culture reported from Novi Sad for the festival\u2019s 50th anniversary of hip-hop edition where headliners included the Wu-Tang Clan, the Prodigy and Skrillex, among Serbian hip-hop artists. \n\nIt\u2019s the first time at the festival for hip-hop and pop pioneers Black Eyed Peas, as well as for Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who is touring his third Atlas Underground solo album. \n\nEnglish DJ Carl Cox returns to the festival after performances in 2009 and 2019, while eclectic producer Bonobo and trap legend Gucci Mane will also make their debut at the festival. \n\n24 artists have been announced as part of the preliminary line-up. Drum and bass band Rudimental will be joined by singer-songwriter Kenya Grace and singer-DJ John Newman on the Tesla Universe Stage, named after the famous Serbian inventor. \n\nOther acts announced include\u00a0KlangKuenstler, Sama\u2019 Abdulhadi, Barry Can\u2019t Swim, Franky Wah, Mene, Iniko, the Exploited, Dub FX, Willy William, Ian Asher, Steve Angelo, and Joker Out. On the rockier side, Greek band Villagers of Ioannina City, Swiss thrash metal heads Coroner and the all-female death metal group Nemesis have also been announced. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>EXIT Festival has announced its 2024 line-up as part of a new theme for the Serbian music festival.<\/p>\n<p>Black Eyed Peas, Tom Morello, Gucci Mane, Carl Cox and Bonobo will headline the 2024 edition of the festival. Set in the Petrovaradin Fortress of Novi Sad, Serbia\u2019s second-biggest city, <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.exitfest.org//en//tickets//list///">EXIT will run<\/strong><\/a> from 10 to 14 July next year.<\/p>\n<p>The new theme of the festival will be EXIT Starseed!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This year, Euronews Culture <strong><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//07//11//exit-festival-2023-review-wu-tang-clan-prodigy-bring-the-noise-in-serbia/">reported from Novi Sad<\/a><\/strong> for the festival\u2019s 50th anniversary of hip-hop edition where headliners included the Wu-Tang Clan, the Prodigy and Skrillex, among Serbian hip-hop artists.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-ease-in-up widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//12//11//08//808x454_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg/" alt=\"Gucci Mane performs at the Essence Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/384x216_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/640x360_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/750x422_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/828x466_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/1080x608_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/1200x675_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/1920x1080_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Gucci Mane performs at the Essence Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s the first time at the festival for hip-hop and pop pioneers Black Eyed Peas, as well as for Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, who is touring his third Atlas Underground solo album.<\/p>\n<p>English DJ Carl Cox returns to the festival after performances in 2009 and 2019, while eclectic producer Bonobo and trap legend Gucci Mane will also make their debut at the festival.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"7741774\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//culture//2023//07//11//exit-festival-2023-review-wu-tang-clan-prodigy-bring-the-noise-in-serbia/">EXIT Festival 2023: Wu-Tang Clan & Prodigy bring the noise in Serbia<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-ease-in-up widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//07//74//17//74//808x454_cmsv2_d955d8df-f116-5851-a0f7-e3b164976a08-7741774.jpg/" alt=\"Wu-Tang Clan on the main stage\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/74\/17\/74\/384x216_cmsv2_d955d8df-f116-5851-a0f7-e3b164976a08-7741774.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/74\/17\/74\/640x360_cmsv2_d955d8df-f116-5851-a0f7-e3b164976a08-7741774.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/74\/17\/74\/750x422_cmsv2_d955d8df-f116-5851-a0f7-e3b164976a08-7741774.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/74\/17\/74\/828x466_cmsv2_d955d8df-f116-5851-a0f7-e3b164976a08-7741774.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/74\/17\/74\/1080x608_cmsv2_d955d8df-f116-5851-a0f7-e3b164976a08-7741774.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/74\/17\/74\/1200x675_cmsv2_d955d8df-f116-5851-a0f7-e3b164976a08-7741774.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/07\/74\/17\/74\/1920x1080_cmsv2_d955d8df-f116-5851-a0f7-e3b164976a08-7741774.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Wu-Tang Clan on the main stage<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Josh Karpf\/Jukebox PR<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>24 artists have been announced as part of the preliminary line-up. Drum and bass band Rudimental will be joined by singer-songwriter Kenya Grace and singer-DJ John Newman on the Tesla Universe Stage, named after the famous Serbian inventor.<\/p>\n<p>Other acts announced include\u00a0KlangKuenstler, Sama\u2019 Abdulhadi, Barry Can\u2019t Swim, Franky Wah, Mene, Iniko, the Exploited, Dub FX, Willy William, Ian Asher, Steve Angelo, and Joker Out. On the rockier side, Greek band Villagers of Ioannina City, Swiss thrash metal heads Coroner and the all-female death metal group Nemesis have also been announced.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1702987433,"updatedAt":1702988328,"publishedAt":1702988325,"firstPublishedAt":1702988328,"lastPublishedAt":1702988328,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Apl.de.ap, from left, Will.i.am, and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas perform at KAABOO Texas on May 11, 2019","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Apl.de.ap, from left, Will.i.am, and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas perform at KAABOO Texas on May 11, 2019","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0e0f6900-dc3e-5f67-9d8f-cb11591387f3-8121108.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Gucci Mane performs at the Essence Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans","callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"caption":"Gucci Mane performs at the Essence Festival on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/12\/11\/08\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ffd2ff65-bc5f-5b77-bb1d-6363c8221f08-8121108.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"walfisz","twitter":"@JonathanWalfisz","title":"Jonny Walfisz"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"music-festival","titleRaw":"Music festival","id":10843,"title":"Music festival","slug":"music-festival"},{"urlSafeValue":"hip-hop","titleRaw":"Hip-hop","id":17266,"title":"Hip-hop","slug":"hip-hop"},{"urlSafeValue":"music","titleRaw":"Music","id":11646,"title":"Music","slug":"music"}],"widgets":[{"count":2,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"culture-news","urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news","online":0,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-news\/culture-news"},"vertical":"culture","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"culture","id":10,"title":"Culture","slug":"culture"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":10,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","id":"culture-news","title":"Culture news","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/culture-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":53,"urlSafeValue":"culture-news","title":"Culture news"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":{"id":3483,"urlSafeValue":"novi-sad","title":"Novi Sad"},"grapeshot":"'gb_safe','gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','pos_ukraine-russia','pos_ukrainecrisis','gs_entertain_music','gs_entertain_mus','gs_entertain','gs_popculture','gs_event_music_festival','gs_seasevnt_musicfest','gs_seasevnt','gs_entertain_mus_hiphop','gs_popculture_celebstyle','neg_bucherer','neg_mobkoi_castrol','eap-gs-homerfaber-fs-30july19','neg_facebook_neg11','gt_negative','gv_death_injury'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"Culture - Black Eyed Peas to headline EXIT Festival 2024","path":"\/culture\/2023\/12\/19\/black-eyed-peas-to-headline-exit-festival-2024","lastModified":1702988328},{"id":2437524,"cid":8116156,"versionId":10,"archive":0,"housenumber":"231217_NWSU_54262289","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbia's ruling populists claim sweeping election victory","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Serbia's ruling populists claim sweeping election victory","titleListing2":"Serbia's ruling populists claim sweeping victory in the country's parliamentary election","leadin":"Near-final results show that President Aleksandar Vucic won 47% of the vote, despite the opposition claims of voter-bullying and bribes.","summary":"Near-final results show that President Aleksandar Vucic won 47% of the vote, despite the opposition claims of voter-bullying and bribes.","keySentence":"","url":"serbias-ruling-populists-claim-sweeping-victory-in-the-countrys-parliamentary-election","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/12\/17\/serbias-ruling-populists-claim-sweeping-victory-in-the-countrys-parliamentary-election","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"An early official vote count appears to confirm Serbia\u2019s governing populists\u2019 claims of a sweeping victory in the Sunday election, despite the complaints of the opposition. \n\nThe party of President Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), won some 47% of the ballots in the parliamentary vote, followed by Serbia Against Violence with 23%, according to a near-complete preliminary tally by the state election commission. If confirmed, this result would land the party around 130 seats in the 250-member assembly, giving SNS an absolute majority and the ability to form a government on its own. \n\nThe main contest in the parliamentary and local elections was between President Aleksandar Vucic\u2019s Serbian Progressives and a centrist coalition, who sought to undermine the populists ruling the troubled Balkan state since 2012. \n\nThe Serbia Against Violence opposition coalition was expected to mount its biggest challenge for the city council in Belgrade, with analysts saying an opposition victory in the capital would seriously dent Vucic\u2019s hardline rule in the country. \n\nVucic, however, said his party was also leading in the vote in the capital, though he added post-election coalition negotiations would determine who governs in Belgrade. \n\n\u201cThis is an absolute victory which makes me extremely happy,\u201d a jubilant Vucic said at his party\u2019s headquarters in Belgrade. \u201cWe know what we have achieved in the previous period and how tough a period lies ahead.\u201d \n\nThe main opposition group disputed the election projections from the governing party, claiming there was vote-rigging and saying it would dispute the vote count \u201cby all democratic means.\u201d \n\nWhile official results are yet to be announced in Belgrade, Serbia Against Violence, the country\u2019s opposition alliance, said they were robbed of victory in the local election and will refuse to recognise the results in the capital. Instead, they will demand a rerun of the ballot. \n\nProjections by IPSOS and CESID said that SNS won 38% of the ballots in Belgrade, while Serbia Against Violence won 35%. But the opposition group has claimed fraud, saying there were several irregularities both during the campaign and on election day. \n\nIrregularities were also reported by independent media and election monitors. One claimed that ethnic Serbs from neighbouring Bosnia were brought to Belgrade en masse by bus to vote. Serbia Against Violence said that 40,000 identity documents were issued for people who do not live in the capital city. \n\nOne monitoring team said they were attacked with baseball bats in a town in northern Serbia. \n\n\u201cProblems that marked the election day on December 17 were particularly serious in Belgrade, primarily caused by the intent to influence citizens\u2019 electoral will,\u201d said the independent Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability group which monitors elections in Serbia. \n\nVucic and the SNS party have denied all the allegations.\u00a0Acting Prime Minister Ana Brnabic\u00a0called the accusations \u201clies that are intended to spread panic.\u201dThe\u00a0 opposition said it would call for a major protest in the streets of the capital later on Monday. \n\nTurnout one hour before the polls closed was around 55%, about the same as during the last election in 2022 when Vucic scored a landslide victory. \n\nRussian support for populists \n\nSeveral right-wing groups, including pro-Russia parties, and Socialists allied with Vucic, ran candidates for parliament and local councils in around 60 cities and towns as well as regional authorities in the northern Vojvodina province. \n\nThe election didn\u2019t include the presidency, but governing authorities backed by dominant pro-government media ran the campaign as a referendum on Vucic. \n\nAlthough he wasn\u2019t formally on the ballot, the Serbian president campaigned relentlessly for the SNS, which appeared on the ballot under the name \u201cAleksandar Vucic \u2014 Serbia must not stop!\u201d \n\nSerbia Against Violence, a pro-European Union bloc, includes parties that were behind months of street protests this year, triggered by two back-to-back mass shootings in May. \n\nSerbia, a Balkan country that has maintained warm relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, has been a candidate for European Union membership since 2014.\u00a0 \n\nLeaders have faced allegations of steadily eroding democratic freedoms and rules over the past years. \n\nAnalysts said Vucic is seeking to consolidate power after the two back-to-back shootings triggered months of anti-government protests, while high inflation and rampant corruption fuel public discontent.\u00a0 \n\nVucic has also faced criticism over his handling of a crisis in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade doesn\u2019t recognise. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>An early official vote count appears to confirm Serbia\u2019s governing populists\u2019 claims of a sweeping victory in the Sunday election, despite the complaints of the opposition.<\/p>\n<p>The party of President Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), won some 47% of the ballots in the parliamentary vote, followed by Serbia Against Violence with 23%, according to a near-complete preliminary tally by the state election commission. If confirmed, this result would land the party around 130 seats in the 250-member assembly, giving SNS an absolute majority and the ability to form a government on its own.<\/p>\n<p>The main contest in the parliamentary and local elections was between President Aleksandar Vucic\u2019s Serbian Progressives and a centrist coalition, who sought to undermine the populists ruling the troubled Balkan state since 2012.<\/p>\n<p>The Serbia Against Violence opposition coalition was expected to mount its biggest challenge for the city council in Belgrade, with analysts saying an opposition victory in the capital would seriously dent Vucic\u2019s hardline rule in the country.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1734906486042530094\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vucic, however, said his party was also leading in the vote in the capital, though he added post-election coalition negotiations would determine who governs in Belgrade.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is an absolute victory which makes me extremely happy,\u201d a jubilant Vucic said at his party\u2019s headquarters in Belgrade. \u201cWe know what we have achieved in the previous period and how tough a period lies ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The main opposition group disputed the election projections from the governing party, claiming there was vote-rigging and saying it would dispute the vote count \u201cby all democratic means.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While official results are yet to be announced in Belgrade, Serbia Against Violence, the country\u2019s opposition alliance, said they were robbed of victory in the local election and will refuse to recognise the results in the capital. Instead, they will demand a rerun of the ballot.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//11//54//94//808x539_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg/" alt=\"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic casts his ballot for a parliamentary and local election at a polling station in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/384x256_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/640x427_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/750x500_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/828x552_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/1080x720_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/1200x800_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/1920x1281_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic casts his ballot for a parliamentary and local election at a polling station in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">ALEXANDER NEMENOV\/AFP or licensors<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Projections by IPSOS and CESID said that SNS won 38% of the ballots in Belgrade, while Serbia Against Violence won 35%. But the opposition group has claimed fraud, saying there were several irregularities both during the campaign and on election day.<\/p>\n<p>Irregularities were also reported by independent media and election monitors. One claimed that ethnic Serbs from neighbouring Bosnia were brought to Belgrade en masse by bus to vote. Serbia Against Violence said that 40,000 identity documents were issued for people who do not live in the capital city.<\/p>\n<p>One monitoring team said they were attacked with baseball bats in a town in northern Serbia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProblems that marked the election day on December 17 were particularly serious in Belgrade, primarily caused by the intent to influence citizens\u2019 electoral will,\u201d said the independent Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability group which monitors elections in Serbia.<\/p>\n<p>Vucic and the SNS party have denied all the allegations.\u00a0Acting Prime Minister Ana Brnabic\u00a0called the accusations \u201clies that are intended to spread panic.\u201dThe\u00a0 opposition said it would call for a major protest in the streets of the capital later on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Turnout one hour before the polls closed was around 55%, about the same as during the last election in 2022 when Vucic scored a landslide victory.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//11//61//56//808x539_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg/" alt=\"A woman casts her vote at the early parliamentary elections in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/384x256_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/640x427_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/750x500_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/828x552_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/1080x720_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/1200x800_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/1920x1281_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A woman casts her vote at the early parliamentary elections in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">ALEXANDER NEMENOV\/AFP or licensors<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2><strong>Russian support for populists<\/strong><\/h2><p>Several right-wing groups, including pro-Russia parties, and Socialists allied with Vucic, ran candidates for parliament and local councils in around 60 cities and towns as well as regional authorities in the northern Vojvodina province.<\/p>\n<p>The election didn\u2019t include the presidency, but governing authorities backed by dominant pro-government media ran the campaign as a referendum on Vucic.<\/p>\n<p>Although he wasn\u2019t formally on the ballot, the Serbian president campaigned relentlessly for the SNS, which appeared on the ballot under the name \u201cAleksandar Vucic \u2014 Serbia must not stop!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Serbia Against Violence, a pro-European Union bloc, includes parties that were behind months of street protests this year, triggered by two back-to-back mass shootings in May.<\/p>\n<div\n data-stories-id=\"8109582,8106994\"\n data-event=\"widget_related\"\n class=\"widget widget--type-related widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <ul class=\"widget__related_list\"><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//12//13//serbians-dreaming-of-eu-membership-feel-betrayed-by-vucics-government-and-the-bloc/">Serbians dreaming of EU membership feel betrayed by Vu\u010di\u0107\u2019s government <\/a> <\/li><li class=\"widget__related_listItem\"> <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//12//14//everything-you-need-to-know-about-serbia-elections/">Everything you need to know about Serbia elections<\/a> <\/li><\/ul>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Serbia, a Balkan country that has maintained warm relations with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, has been a candidate for European Union membership since 2014.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Leaders have faced allegations of steadily eroding democratic freedoms and rules over the past years.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts said Vucic is seeking to consolidate power after the two back-to-back shootings triggered months of anti-government protests, while high inflation and rampant corruption fuel public discontent.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Vucic has also faced criticism over his handling of a crisis in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade doesn\u2019t recognise.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1702840413,"updatedAt":1702908445,"publishedAt":1702846211,"firstPublishedAt":1702846226,"lastPublishedAt":1702908445,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"ALEXANDER NEMENOV\/AFP or licensors","altText":"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks to the media in his party headquarters after a parliamentary and local election in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks to the media in his party headquarters after a parliamentary and local election in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b966703e-1735-57df-8764-fd6a39ac8ed3-8116156.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"ALEXANDER NEMENOV\/AFP or licensors","altText":"A woman casts her vote at the early parliamentary elections in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. ","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"A woman casts her vote at the early parliamentary elections in Belgrade, Serbia, Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. ","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/56\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_52f0bafb-fb39-561f-8905-a01ecccc0401-8116156.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"ELVIS BARUKCIC\/AFP or licensors","altText":"Serbia's ruling populists claim sweeping victory in the country's parliamentary election","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"Serbia's ruling populists claim sweeping victory in the country's parliamentary election","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/61\/60\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6044c0ce-7eb2-5090-86f5-a3f42e9500d7-8116160.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":691}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"euronewsdigital","twitter":null,"title":"Greta Ruffino"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"parliamentary-elections","titleRaw":"Parliamentary elections","id":9287,"title":"Parliamentary 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Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"belgrade","titleRaw":"Belgrade","id":1731,"title":"Belgrade","slug":"belgrade"}],"widgets":[{"count":2,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"twitter"},{"count":1,"slug":"related"}],"related":[{"id":2434554}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"f0RNvhJoOB4","dailymotionId":"x8qnuhn"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":4372194,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/17\/en\/231217_NWSU_54262289_54263126_35000_220619_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":35000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":6486242,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/17\/en\/231217_NWSU_54262289_54263126_35000_220619_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world 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VOTE FIRST RESULTS","path":"\/2023\/12\/17\/serbias-ruling-populists-claim-sweeping-victory-in-the-countrys-parliamentary-election","lastModified":1702908445},{"id":2437256,"cid":8115494,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":"231217_NWSU_54259278","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Serbia's populists look to further tighten grip on power in tense election","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Serbia's populists seek to tighten grip on power in tense election","titleListing2":"Serbia's populists look to further tighten grip on power in tense election","leadin":"The vote comes as some election monitors have reported pressure on voters, fearmongering and abuse of public office and institutions fostered by the authorities as well as accusations of vote-buying and voter-bribing.","summary":"The vote comes as some election monitors have reported pressure on voters, fearmongering and abuse of public office and institutions fostered by the authorities as well as accusations of vote-buying and voter-bribing.","keySentence":"","url":"serbias-populists-look-to-further-tighten-grip-on-power-in-tense-election","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/12\/17\/serbias-populists-look-to-further-tighten-grip-on-power-in-tense-election","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic is looking to further tighten his grip on power in an election on Sunday that has been marred by reports of major irregularities during a tense campaign. \n\nThe main contest in the parliamentary and local elections is expected to be between Vucic's governing right-wing Serbian Progressive Party - or SNS - and a centrist coalition that is trying to undermine the populists who have ruled the troubled Balkan state since 2012. \n\nThe Serbia Against Violence opposition list is expected to mount the biggest challenge for the city council in Belgrade. An opposition victory in the capital would seriously dent Vucic\u2019s hard-line rule in the country, analysts say. \n\n\u201cChanges in Serbia have started and there is no force that can stop that,\u201d said Dragan Djilas, the opposition coalition leader, after he voted in Belgrade. \"We, as the strongest opposition list, will defend people\u2019s will by all democratic means.\u201d \n\nVucic said he expects \u201ca convincing victory\u201d in the vote and that his ruling party \u201cwill be close to an absolute majority\u201d in the parliamentary election. \n\n\"This is a very important pre-condition for Serbia to continue on the path of prosperity and success,\u201d he said after he cast his ballot. \n\nSeveral right-wing groups, including pro-Russian parties and Socialists allied with Vucic are also running for control of the 250-seat parliament and local councils in some 60 cities and towns, as well as regional authorities in the northern Vojvodina province. \n\nThe election does not include the presidency, but governing authorities backed by dominant pro-government media have run the campaign as a referendum on Vucic. \n\nAlthough he is not formally on the ballot, the Serbian president has campaigned relentlessly for the SNS, which appears on the ballot under the name \u201cAleksandar Vucic - Serbia must not stop!\u201d The main opposition Serbia Against Violence pro-European Union bloc includes parties that were behind months of street protests this year triggered by two back-to-back mass shootings in May. \n\nThe Serbian president has been touring the country and attending his party\u2019s rallies, promising new roads, hospitals and one-off cash bonuses. Vucic\u2019s image is seen on billboards all over the country, though he has stepped down as SNS party leader. \n\nEven before the vote started on Sunday, some campaign monitors reported pressure on voters, fearmongering and abuse of public office and institutions fostered by the authorities. There have also been reports of vote-buying and voter-bribing. \n\nSerbia, a Balkan country that has maintained warm relations with Vladimir Putin\u2019s Russia, has been a candidate for EU membership since 2014 but has faced allegations of steadily eroding democratic freedoms and rules over the past years. \n\nBoth Vucic and the SNS have denied allegations of campaign abuse and attempted vote-rigging, as well as charges that Vucic as president is violating the constitution by campaigning for one party. \n\nHardly any of the complaints or recommendations by local and foreign observers have resulted in changes in the voting process. \n\nVucic called the snap vote only a year and a half after a previous parliamentary and presidential election, although his party holds a comfortable majority in the parliament. \n\nAnalysts say Vucic is seeking to consolidate power after two back-to-back shootings triggered months of anti-government protests, as high inflation and rampant corruption fueled public discontent. Vucic has also faced criticism over his handling of a crisis in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade does not recognize. \n\nHis supporters view Vucic as the only leader who can maintain stability and lead the country into a better future. \n\n\u201cI think it\u2019s time that Serbia goes forward with full steam,\u201d Lazar Mitrovic, a pensioner, said after he voted. \u201cThat means that it should focus on its youth, on young people, education and of course discipline.\u201d \n\nMajor polling agencies have refrained from publishing pre-election surveys, citing fear among Serbia\u2019s 6.5 million eligible voters and high polarisation. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic is looking to further tighten his grip on power in an election on Sunday that has been marred by reports of major irregularities during a tense campaign.<\/p>\n<p>The main contest in the parliamentary and local elections is expected to be between Vucic's governing right-wing Serbian Progressive Party - or SNS - and a centrist coalition that is trying to undermine the populists who have ruled the troubled Balkan state since 2012.<\/p>\n<p>The Serbia Against Violence opposition list is expected to mount the biggest challenge for the city council in Belgrade. An opposition victory in the capital would seriously dent Vucic\u2019s hard-line rule in the country, analysts say.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChanges in Serbia have started and there is no force that can stop that,\u201d said Dragan Djilas, the opposition coalition leader, after he voted in Belgrade. \"We, as the strongest opposition list, will defend people\u2019s will by all democratic means.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Vucic said he expects \u201ca convincing victory\u201d in the vote and that his ruling party \u201cwill be close to an absolute majority\u201d in the parliamentary election.<\/p>\n<p>\"This is a very important pre-condition for Serbia to continue on the path of prosperity and success,\u201d he said after he cast his ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Several right-wing groups, including pro-Russian parties and Socialists allied with Vucic are also running for control of the 250-seat parliament and local councils in some 60 cities and towns, as well as regional authorities in the northern Vojvodina province.<\/p>\n<p>The election does not include the presidency, but governing authorities backed by dominant pro-government media have run the campaign as a referendum on Vucic.<\/p>\n<p>Although he is not formally on the ballot, the Serbian president has campaigned relentlessly for the SNS, which appears on the ballot under the name \u201cAleksandar Vucic - Serbia must not stop!\u201d The main opposition Serbia Against Violence pro-European Union bloc includes parties that were behind months of street protests this year triggered by two back-to-back mass shootings in May.<\/p>\n<p>The Serbian president has been touring the country and attending his party\u2019s rallies, promising new roads, hospitals and one-off cash bonuses. Vucic\u2019s image is seen on billboards all over the country, though he has stepped down as SNS party leader.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//11//54//94//808x539_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg/" alt=\"Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic casts his ballot for a parliamentary and local election at a polling station in Belgrade, Serbia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/384x256_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/640x427_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/750x500_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/828x552_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/1080x720_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/1200x800_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/1920x1281_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic casts his ballot for a parliamentary and local election at a polling station in Belgrade, Serbia<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Darko Vojinovic\/The AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Even before the vote started on Sunday, some campaign monitors reported pressure on voters, fearmongering and abuse of public office and institutions fostered by the authorities. There have also been reports of vote-buying and voter-bribing.<\/p>\n<p>Serbia, a Balkan country that has maintained warm relations with Vladimir Putin\u2019s Russia, has been a candidate for EU membership since 2014 but has faced allegations of steadily eroding democratic freedoms and rules over the past years.<\/p>\n<p>Both Vucic and the SNS have denied allegations of campaign abuse and attempted vote-rigging, as well as charges that Vucic as president is violating the constitution by campaigning for one party.<\/p>\n<p>Hardly any of the complaints or recommendations by local and foreign observers have resulted in changes in the voting process.<\/p>\n<p>Vucic called the snap vote only a year and a half after a previous parliamentary and presidential election, although his party holds a comfortable majority in the parliament.<\/p>\n<p>Analysts say Vucic is seeking to consolidate power after two back-to-back shootings triggered months of anti-government protests, as high inflation and rampant corruption fueled public discontent. Vucic has also faced criticism over his handling of a crisis in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade does not recognize.<\/p>\n<p>His supporters view Vucic as the only leader who can maintain stability and lead the country into a better future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s time that Serbia goes forward with full steam,\u201d Lazar Mitrovic, a pensioner, said after he voted. \u201cThat means that it should focus on its youth, on young people, education and of course discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Major polling agencies have refrained from publishing pre-election surveys, citing fear among Serbia\u2019s 6.5 million eligible voters and high polarisation.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1702807953,"updatedAt":1702823224,"publishedAt":1702808659,"firstPublishedAt":1702808663,"lastPublishedAt":1702822877,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/The 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Serbia","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/11\/54\/94\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_79cd44d0-d148-58b9-bf10-e772798880f2-8115494.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"aleksandar-vucic","titleRaw":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","id":13964,"title":"Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107","slug":"aleksandar-vucic"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"eastern-europe","titleRaw":"Eastern Europe","id":14156,"title":"Eastern Europe","slug":"eastern-europe"},{"urlSafeValue":"secim-mitingi","titleRaw":"election campaign","id":15140,"title":"election 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SERBIA ELECTIONS","path":"\/2023\/12\/17\/serbias-populists-look-to-further-tighten-grip-on-power-in-tense-election","lastModified":1702822877},{"id":2435360,"cid":8109582,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":"231214_NWSU_54225848","owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Everything you need to know about Serbia elections","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Everything you need to know about Serbia elections","titleListing2":"\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddf8 Everything you need to know about Serbia elections, with 250 seats up for grabs in Sunday's vote. ","leadin":"The Serbian Parliament has 250 seats, and incumbent President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 will face off against his main opposition rivals from a right-wing bloc, and Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas.","summary":"The Serbian Parliament has 250 seats, and incumbent President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 will face off against his main opposition rivals from a right-wing bloc, and Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas.","keySentence":"","url":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-serbia-elections","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2023\/12\/14\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-serbia-elections","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Serbia goes to the polls on Sunday 17 December in\u00a0early parliamentary elections for the People\u2019s Assembly of Serbia and for the provincial parliament of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.\u00a0 \n\nPeople in more than 60 towns and cities will also vote, since the mayors of those municipalities resigned when the parliamentary elections were called. \n\nWho are the main contestants? \n\nIncumbents \n\nOn one side is the ruling coalition lead by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of the Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 . In the outgoing parliament this coalition, together with the supportive party of ethnic Hungarians had a comfortable majority of more than 150 deputies. The Serbian Parliament has 250 seats. This coalition has been ruling the country since 2012 when Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107, having split from the nationalist Radical Party, lead the then new Progressive Party to victory. The second largest partner in the coalition is the Socialist Party of Serbia, once headed by the Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic who died in the Hague UN prison indicted for war crimes during the 90-ies wars in former Yugoslavia.\u00a0 \n\nDuring the previous decade the Vu\u010di\u0107 Party had significant success in economic development of the country, having built modern infrastructure, reduced unemployment and attracted foreign investment. But Vu\u010di\u0107\u2019s ruling style, where all the power in the country is centered in his office had him often branded populist autocrat. Both the European Parliament and the European Commission have addressed serious deficiencies in the Serbian democracy in all of their annual reports on the progress of Serbia towards the EU membership. Most complaints have to do with the rule of law and the freedom of the press. Vu\u010di\u0107 is often compared with the Hungarian PM Victor Orban with whom he has a very friendly relationship. Recently Vu\u010di\u0107 received a lot of flack from the European capitals and the US for refusing to join the western sanctions against Russia and openly stating his intention to maintain good relations with Moscow while condemning its attack on Ukraine. \n\nOpposition \n\nThe opposition side is divided into two camps. The first is so-called pro-European opposition. The largest party there is the Freedom and Justice Party lead by the former mayor of Belgrade Dragan Djilas. This block includes civic, green and center-leftist parties whose programmes have the EU membership of Serbia in their focus. Their decade-long attempts to upset Vu\u010di\u0107 produced modest results. Some analysts point out that this is due to the lack of coherent programme or counter-offer to the voters. They themselves blame their sluggish performance on the fact that Vu\u010di\u0107 controls the national media, bashes them with his tabloid press and obstructs their work. In the outgoing parliament this block had around 40 deputies. \n\nThe second opposition block is that of the right-wing nationalists. They failed to agree on the pre-election coalition so they will face the voters in two camps. Both of them have similar programmes though. Apart from typically right-wing traditionalist, pro-family, pro-life, anti-abortion and anti-gay rhetoric a lot of their agenda is focused on Kosovo (a former Serbian province which declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia refuses to accept). They say that saving the sovereignty over the \u201cheart of Serbia\u201d is the first of many reasons why the Serbs should say no to the EU membership. So far the parties from this part of the spectrum had around 20 deputies in the parliament. \n\nWhy are the elections early? \n\nIndeed, why should a country with stable majority in the parliament and no crisis of government have a snap election? And not just one, but four in a row. The previous elections were last year. \n\nSince the SNS came to power, this will be the seventh time that Serbian citizens have been called to the polls. Only once have the deputies had the chance to finish their four-year term. \n\n\u201cVu\u010di\u0107 calls new elections when it suits him, when he perceives a decline in popularity or when he assumes that situations unfavourable to his government may arise in the future. By doing so, he manages to carve out room for maneuvre that allows him to postpone important decisions, primarily those concerning Kosovo,\u201d wrote Antonela Riha, a well-known Serbian journalist and political analyst for Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa. \n\nIn the past, the opposition protested such elections, even boycotted them. This time around they demanded them albeit only for the Serbian and Belgrade parliaments. \n\n\u201cI solved neither side of this equation. I do not understand why the opposition demanded the elections, it\u2019s a mystery to me. An even bigger mystery is why Vu\u010di\u0107 intended to have them anyhow. There is no crisis of the legitimacy of government which demands snap elections. You don\u2019t have hundreds of thousands of people in the streets. When the people did take to the streets the leaders of the opposition addressing them shouted at Vu\u010di\u0107: \u201cDon\u2019t you dare call the elections!\u201d, says Ljilja Smajlovic, a journalist and political analyst. \n\nWhat is at stake? Parliamentary electioned turned presidential \n\nThe opposition demanded the parliamentary elections be held separately from the Belgrade and Vojvodina ones and that Vu\u010di\u0107 does not lend his name to the campaigns he is not a candidate in. Vu\u010di\u0107 refused them flatly declaring the elections a confidence vote for him personally. \n\n\u201cIf they (the opposition) win the elections I will give them the mandate but I shall no longer be the President because I would no longer be able to do anything for the citizens of Serbia. I want the people to know that\u2026. I want the people to know that when they vote, they do not only vote for the list of deputies, they also vote for their president, they vote for me or against me, just like they (the opposition) say,\u201d said Vu\u010di\u0107 on the campaign\u2019s starting rally. \n\nIs it all about Belgrade? \n\nOpinion polls suggest that the ratings of the ruling parties are not in sharp decline in comparison to the previous elections. If the SNS can maintain the same or similar coalition they have now, they should not have a problem forming the next government. \n\nBut the capital city is the traditional stronghold of civic, liberal parties, currently in opposition. In previous Belgrade elections the SNS struggled to form the city government and managed only after repeated voting and after some opposition deputies defected to them. This is the closest race again and the important one. Belgrade is home to one quarter of the Serbian population and produces more than half of the country\u2019s GDP. It is where the money is and winning Belgrade is generally seen as the prelude \n\nto assuming power in the whole of the country. Pro-EU opposition is the strongest one but the nationalist one, along with the Socialists could still be the king-makers. \n\nWhat is on offer for voters? \n\nThroughout the campaign the ruling SNS party has been trying to capitalize on the economic achievements. Hundreds of miles of new, modern highways, high-speed trains, refurbished schools and hospitals and constant influx of foreign investment. \n\n\u201cAs of the beginning of October, we have 3.42 billion euro worth of new foreign direct investment this year. Last year was a record one, with 4.4 billion but I hope we will surpass that by the end of the year,\u201d said Vu\u010di\u0107 on a rally inaugurating a new road in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina. \n\nUnemployment rate of 9.1% (projected by the IMF) is lower than in some EU member states and the economy growth was steady throughout the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine (this year projected at 2.5% by the Government). The government also boasts record hard currency and gold reserves as well as a small budget deficit of 3%. The only data that spoils the picture, especially because it makes life hard for the people, is the second highest inflation in Europe (Turkey excluded) of over 10% as of November. \n\nThe opposition focuses on the rule of law, media freedom and corruption, all three being the constant point of criticism in several successive reports on the progress of Serbia towards the EU membership by the European Commission and European Parliament issued so far. \n\n\"The new technical government should set aside differences, arrest all the crimnals, you see that crime is rampant. Policemen who fight and arrest the drug dealers will lead the police, not the ones who prevent them from doing so. Everyone\u2019s property will be examined as well as business deals and tenders. And we will free the media,\u201c promised Djilas (in a Euronews Serbia programme). \n\nWhat was the campaign like? \n\nWith the elections having been turned into a no-confidence vote on Vu\u010di\u0107\u2019s rule, the lengthy 45-day campaign soon turned into trading insults and accusations. The opposition used their media to accuse Vu\u010di\u0107 of organizing crime and corruption and he fired back salvos from the media he controls, notably the high-circulation tabloids to portray opposition leaders as enemies of the people. \n\nAfter a visit to Serbia, Council of Europe observers underlined that the election campaign is characterised by \u201can unprecedented level of negative language, scaremongering, attacks on the opposition and journalists and serious problems affecting the media\u201d. \n\nHowever, the physical fights between party activists and poster wars that happened in the past, were not reported so far. \n\nWith the opinion polls showing that most of the older voters are already decided and unlikely to change their minds, the politicians engaged younger ones including the first time voters. Vu\u010di\u0107 announced that high-school children would be given a 10.000 dinars (\u20ac90) of financial aid each and students\u2019 newly established benefit cards topped up with 1.000 (\u20ac9). The opposition accused him of bribing the voters with the money from the budget. Vu\u010di\u0107, along with some of his ministers, also opened a Tic Toc account where he performs memes. \n\nWith the opposition crying foul because of the electoral conditions the monitoring of elections will be crucial to eliminate the possibility of irregularities or claims of thereof. Observation promises to be abundant. All the participating parties are allowed to send observers to all the polling places. As usual OSCE, Council of Europe and the EU missions will observe the vote as will some of the Serbian NGOs. \n\n","htmlText":"<p>Serbia goes to the polls on Sunday 17 December in\u00a0early parliamentary elections for the People\u2019s Assembly of Serbia and for the provincial parliament of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>People in more than 60 towns and cities will also vote, since the mayors of those municipalities resigned when the parliamentary elections were called.<\/p>\n<h2>Who are the main contestants?<\/h2><p><strong>Incumbents<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On one side is the ruling coalition lead by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of the Serbian President <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////twitter.com//avucic/">Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107<\/strong><\/a>. In the outgoing parliament this coalition, together with the supportive party of ethnic Hungarians had a comfortable majority of more than 150 deputies. The Serbian Parliament has 250 seats. This coalition has been ruling the country since 2012 when Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107, having split from the nationalist Radical Party, lead the then new Progressive Party to victory. The second largest partner in the coalition is the Socialist Party of Serbia, once headed by the Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic who died in the Hague UN prison indicted for war crimes during the 90-ies wars in former Yugoslavia.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1735043133077959166\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>During the previous decade the Vu\u010di\u0107 Party had significant success in economic development of the country, having built modern infrastructure, reduced unemployment and attracted foreign investment. But Vu\u010di\u0107\u2019s ruling style, where all the power in the country is centered in his office had him often branded populist autocrat. Both the European Parliament and the European Commission have addressed serious deficiencies in the Serbian democracy in all of their annual reports on the progress of Serbia towards the EU membership. Most complaints have to do with the rule of law and the freedom of the press. Vu\u010di\u0107 is often compared with the Hungarian PM Victor Orban with whom he has a very friendly relationship. Recently Vu\u010di\u0107 received a lot of flack from the European capitals and the US for refusing to join the western sanctions against Russia and openly stating his intention to maintain good relations with Moscow while condemning its attack on Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Opposition<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The opposition side is divided into two camps. The first is so-called pro-European opposition. The largest party there is the Freedom and Justice Party lead by the former mayor of Belgrade Dragan Djilas. This block includes civic, green and center-leftist parties whose programmes have the EU membership of Serbia in their focus. Their decade-long attempts to upset Vu\u010di\u0107 produced modest results. Some analysts point out that this is due to the lack of coherent programme or counter-offer to the voters. They themselves blame their sluggish performance on the fact that Vu\u010di\u0107 controls the national media, bashes them with his tabloid press and obstructs their work. In the outgoing parliament this block had around 40 deputies.<\/p>\n<p>The second opposition block is that of the right-wing nationalists. They failed to agree on the pre-election coalition so they will face the voters in two camps. Both of them have similar programmes though. Apart from typically right-wing traditionalist, pro-family, pro-life, anti-abortion and anti-gay rhetoric a lot of their agenda is focused on Kosovo (a former Serbian province which declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia refuses to accept). They say that saving the sovereignty over the \u201cheart of Serbia\u201d is the first of many reasons why the Serbs should say no to the EU membership. So far the parties from this part of the spectrum had around 20 deputies in the parliament.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6162109375\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//10//95//82//808x499_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: Dragan Djilas, leader of the Freedom and Justice coalition gestures during an interview with the Associated Press, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, March 30, 2022.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/384x237_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/640x394_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/750x462_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/828x510_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1080x666_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1200x739_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1920x1183_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: Dragan Djilas, leader of the Freedom and Justice coalition gestures during an interview with the Associated Press, in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, March 30, 2022.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Darko Vojinovic\/AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>Why are the elections early?<\/h2><p>Indeed, why should a country with stable majority in the parliament and no crisis of government have a snap election? And not just one, but four in a row. The previous elections were last year.<\/p>\n<p>Since the SNS came to power, this will be the seventh time that Serbian citizens have been called to the polls. Only once have the deputies had the chance to finish their four-year term.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVu\u010di\u0107 calls new elections when it suits him, when he perceives a decline in popularity or when he assumes that situations unfavourable to his government may arise in the future. By doing so, he manages to carve out room for maneuvre that allows him to postpone important decisions, primarily those concerning Kosovo,\u201d wrote Antonela Riha, a well-known Serbian journalist and political analyst for Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa.<\/p>\n<p>In the past, the opposition protested such elections, even boycotted them. This time around they demanded them albeit only for the Serbian and Belgrade parliaments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI solved neither side of this equation. I do not understand why the opposition demanded the elections, it\u2019s a mystery to me. An even bigger mystery is why Vu\u010di\u0107 intended to have them anyhow. There is no crisis of the legitimacy of government which demands snap elections. You don\u2019t have hundreds of thousands of people in the streets. When the people did take to the streets the leaders of the opposition addressing them shouted at Vu\u010di\u0107: \u201cDon\u2019t you dare call the elections!\u201d, says Ljilja Smajlovic, a journalist and political analyst.<\/p>\n<h2>What is at stake? Parliamentary electioned turned presidential<\/h2><p>The opposition demanded the parliamentary elections be held separately from the Belgrade and Vojvodina ones and that Vu\u010di\u0107 does not lend his name to the campaigns he is not a candidate in. Vu\u010di\u0107 refused them flatly declaring the elections a confidence vote for him personally.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf they (the opposition) win the elections I will give them the mandate but I shall no longer be the President because I would no longer be able to do anything for the citizens of Serbia. I want the people to know that\u2026. I want the people to know that when they vote, they do not only vote for the list of deputies, they also vote for their president, they vote for me or against me, just like they (the opposition) say,\u201d said Vu\u010di\u0107 on the campaign\u2019s starting rally.<\/p>\n<h2>Is it all about Belgrade?<\/h2><p>Opinion polls suggest that the ratings of the ruling parties are not in sharp decline in comparison to the previous elections. If the SNS can maintain the same or similar coalition they have now, they should not have a problem forming the next government.<\/p>\n<p>But the capital city is the traditional stronghold of civic, liberal parties, currently in opposition. In previous Belgrade elections the SNS struggled to form the city government and managed only after repeated voting and after some opposition deputies defected to them. This is the closest race again and the important one. Belgrade is home to one quarter of the Serbian population and produces more than half of the country\u2019s GDP. It is where the money is and winning Belgrade is generally seen as the prelude<\/p>\n<p>to assuming power in the whole of the country. Pro-EU opposition is the strongest one but the nationalist one, along with the Socialists could still be the king-makers.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//10//95//82//808x539_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg/" alt=\"FILE: People with children walk in a street in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/384x256_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/640x427_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/750x500_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/828x552_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1080x720_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1200x800_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1920x1281_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">FILE: People with children walk in a street in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Pavel Golovkin\/AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>What is on offer for voters?<\/h2><p>Throughout the campaign the ruling SNS party has been trying to capitalize on the economic achievements. Hundreds of miles of new, modern highways, high-speed trains, refurbished schools and hospitals and constant influx of foreign investment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs of the beginning of October, we have 3.42 billion euro worth of new foreign direct investment this year. Last year was a record one, with 4.4 billion but I hope we will surpass that by the end of the year,\u201d said Vu\u010di\u0107 on a rally inaugurating a new road in the northern Serbian province of Vojvodina.<\/p>\n<p>Unemployment rate of 9.1% (projected by the IMF) is lower than in some EU member states and the economy growth was steady throughout the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine (this year projected at 2.5% by the Government). The government also boasts record hard currency and gold reserves as well as a small budget deficit of 3%. The only data that spoils the picture, especially because it makes life hard for the people, is the second highest inflation in Europe (Turkey excluded) of over 10% as of November.<\/p>\n<p>The opposition focuses on the rule of law, media freedom and corruption, all three being the constant point of criticism in several successive reports on the progress of Serbia towards the EU membership by the European Commission and European Parliament issued so far.<\/p>\n<p>\"The new technical government should set aside differences, arrest all the crimnals, you see that crime is rampant. Policemen who fight and arrest the drug dealers will lead the police, not the ones who prevent them from doing so. Everyone\u2019s property will be examined as well as business deals and tenders. And we will free the media,\u201c promised Djilas (in a Euronews Serbia programme).<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6669921875\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//10//95//82//808x539_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg/" alt=\"A woman waves a Serbian flag during a final pre-election rally of opposition "Serbia against violence" coalition in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/384x256_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/640x427_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/750x500_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/828x552_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1080x720_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1200x800_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/1920x1281_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A woman waves a Serbian flag during a final pre-election rally of opposition "Serbia against violence" coalition in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Darko Vojinovic\/AP<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2>What was the campaign like?<\/h2><p>With the elections having been turned into a no-confidence vote on Vu\u010di\u0107\u2019s rule, the lengthy 45-day campaign soon turned into trading insults and accusations. The opposition used their media to accuse Vu\u010di\u0107 of organizing crime and corruption and he fired back salvos from the media he controls, notably the high-circulation tabloids to portray opposition leaders as enemies of the people.<\/p>\n<p>After a visit to Serbia, Council of Europe observers underlined that the election campaign is characterised by \u201can unprecedented level of negative language, scaremongering, attacks on the opposition and journalists and serious problems affecting the media\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>However, the physical fights between party activists and poster wars that happened in the past, were not reported so far.<\/p>\n<p>With the opinion polls showing that most of the older voters are already decided and unlikely to change their minds, the politicians engaged younger ones including the first time voters. Vu\u010di\u0107 announced that high-school children would be given a 10.000 dinars (\u20ac90) of financial aid each and students\u2019 newly established benefit cards topped up with 1.000 (\u20ac9). The opposition accused him of bribing the voters with the money from the budget. Vu\u010di\u0107, along with some of his ministers, also opened a Tic Toc account where he performs memes.<\/p>\n<p>With the opposition crying foul because of the electoral conditions the monitoring of elections will be crucial to eliminate the possibility of irregularities or claims of thereof. Observation promises to be abundant. All the participating parties are allowed to send observers to all the polling places. As usual OSCE, Council of Europe and the EU missions will observe the vote as will some of the Serbian NGOs.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1702546222,"updatedAt":1702656007,"publishedAt":1702555043,"firstPublishedAt":1702555048,"lastPublishedAt":1702654824,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"FILE: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic waves to his supporters, during a pre-election rally of his ruling Serbian Progressive Party in Belgrade, Serbia. 2 December 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"caption":"FILE: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic waves to his supporters, during a pre-election rally of his ruling Serbian Progressive Party in Belgrade, Serbia. 2 December 2023","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_42f24166-3868-5187-8ad5-b4858d4c347a-8109582.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":900},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/AP","altText":"A woman waves a Serbian flag during a final pre-election rally of opposition \"Serbia against violence\" coalition in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"A woman waves a Serbian flag during a final pre-election rally of opposition \"Serbia against violence\" coalition in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e1c156e9-9fa8-52d6-a79b-a38b6bc9af54-8109582.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Pavel Golovkin\/AP","altText":"FILE: People with children walk in a street in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"FILE: People with children walk in a street in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f6b9ecce-95e1-55c1-bbf5-db777b86c899-8109582.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":683},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/AP","altText":"FILE: eople with children walk in a street in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo\/Pavel Golovkin)","callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"caption":"FILE: eople with children walk in a street in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. (AP Photo\/Pavel Golovkin)","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/10\/95\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_27889e59-41b4-58ee-8bf4-179471ca627c-8109582.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":631}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"serbia-politics","titleRaw":"Serbia politics","id":10643,"title":"Serbia politics","slug":"serbia-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"serbia","titleRaw":"Serbia","id":246,"title":"Serbia","slug":"serbia"},{"urlSafeValue":"election","titleRaw":"Election","id":25588,"title":"Election","slug":"election"}],"widgets":[{"count":3,"slug":"image"},{"count":1,"slug":"twitter"}],"related":[{"id":2407658},{"id":2437256},{"id":2441042}],"technicalTags":[{"path":"euronews.byenglishwebteam"},{"path":"euronews"}],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"C8Tb2n1FRU0"},"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":7637270,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/med\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/15\/en\/231215_NWSU_54245430_54245486_60000_162651_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":11355414,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/EN\/NW\/SU\/23\/12\/15\/en\/231215_NWSU_54245430_54245486_60000_162651_en.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"}],"liveStream":[{"endDate":0,"startDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews Serbia and Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"world news","online":1,"url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"vertical":"news","verticals":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":1,"title":"News","slug":"news"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"urlSafeValue":"news","id":"news","title":"World","url":"\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":246,"urlSafeValue":"serbia","title":"Serbia","url":"\/news\/europe\/serbia"},"town":[],"grapeshot":"'gb_safe_from_high','gb_safe_from_high_med','pos_equinor','pos_facebook','pos_pmi','gs_politics','gs_politics_misc','gs_politics_issues_policy','gs_busfin','neg_facebook','gt_negative','gs_politics_elections','neg_nespresso','shadow9hu7_pos_ukrainecrisis','neg_mobkoi_castrol','neg_saudiaramco','neg_facebook_q4','custom_politics_brussels','gs_busfin_economy','gs_economy','gv_crime','gt_negative_anger','gs_economy_misc','gb_crime_edu','gb_crime_high_med_low'","versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"sujet","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"daletEventName":"WEB: SERBIA ELECTIONS EXPLAINER FROM BELGRADE","path":"\/2023\/12\/14\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-serbia-elections","lastModified":1702654824}]"
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