finally allowed in extremis by the Prime Minister in person, the Europride in Belgrade finally took place this Saturday, September 17 despite several minor incidents caused by anti-Pride.
The European pride parade for LGBT+ communities was finally held in Belgrade. In the rain and in the presence of 3,000 police officers, a few thousand participants walked through the city center for a few hundred meters in the rain, before joining a concert until late at night. In adjacent streets, the anti-Pride created a few incidents, jostling or throwing smoke bombs. The police had to respond with tear gas. Thirty people were arrested.
Until the beginning of the afternoon, the legality of Europride had been challenged by the Administrative Court of Serbia and by the Minister of the Interior, one of the most right-wing in the current government, yet chaired by a Prime Minister openly lesbian. It was ultimately she who guaranteed the security of the Pride to MEPs during a last-minute meeting, reports our correspondent in Belgrade, Laurent Rouy.
Serbia has been a candidate for EU membership for a decade, but member states have raised concerns over its human rights record over the years. Homosexual marriage is not legal in this country of less than seven million inhabitants, where homophobia is deeply rooted despite some progress against discrimination.
The Pride marches of 2001 and 2010 were targeted by the far right and marred by violence. Since 2014, the Pride has been held without notable incident, but under strong police protection. Last weekend, thousands of people, motorcycle gangs, Orthodox priests and far-right nationalists, took to the streets to demand the cancellation of the parade.
According to Vladimir Bilcik, the European rapporteur for Serbia present in the demonstration, the anti-Pride particularly well organized, were financed by Russia. However, he notes the success of Europride, which he believes is a positive point for Serbia.