Vučić: “Freedom for the heroes, prison for blockader terrorists”

“Freedom for the heroes, prison for the blockader terrorists” — this message was posted on Instagram by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The “heroes” referenced in the message are in fact men suspected of attacking students outside the offices of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Novi Sad on 28 January, when a female student suffered a dislocated jaw and several other students sustained minor injuries. Within a few months, individuals accused of attacking students with baseball bats have come to be publicly described by senior state officials as “heroes.”

According to media reports https://archive.ph/pMGC8 , the Court of Appeal in Novi Sad ordered the release of two activists and Professor Marija Vasić from pre-trial detention, replacing their custody with house arrest, while the cases of three other detained activists were returned to the lower court for reconsideration. The activists had been arrested on 14 March on suspicion of preparing acts against the constitutional order and security of Serbia. The appellate court decision followed several days of public protests and a blockade of the Novi Sad courthouse, during which citizens demanded the release of the detained activists.

The ruling prompted sharp reactions from government officials. SNS president Miloš Vučević described the decision as an “unprecedented scandal” and announced that he would call on party supporters to block the Novi Sad court until four SNS members accused of attacking students were released from detention https://archive.ph/CzAmI . President Vučić publicly supported the proposal  https://archive.ph/vM61h and reiterated the message on social media: “Freedom for the heroes! Prison for the blockader terrorists.”

The statement refers to four SNS activists accused of participating in an attack on students in Novi Sad on the night between 27 and 28 January. According to reports at the time, four men armed with baseball bats chased a group of students near SNS party offices, seriously injuring one female student whose jaw was dislocated, while several others sustained lighter injuries.

Following the incident, Miloš Vučević resigned as Prime Minister of Serbia on 28 January, citing the events in Novi Sad. The Basic Court in Novi Sad ordered detention for the four suspects, who were charged with violent behavior and causing grievous bodily harm.

Government officials have framed the case in different ways over time. Before the attack occurred, President Vučić warned that anger was rapidly growing among supporters of the ruling party amid ongoing protests. After the incident, he stated that SNS members had been “defending party premises,” while also acknowledging that they had “done something wrong.” In more recent statements, however, Vučić has referred to the detained party activists as “heroes” and questioned the grounds for their detention.