site.btaSerbian Progressive Party Supporters Clash During Campaigning, Mistake Each Other for Rivals

Supporters of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of former President Aleksandar Vucic clashed on Wednesday evening while campaigning in Belgrade's Konjarnik neighbourhood, apparently failing to recognize that they were on the same side. A video posted on X shows two men fighting on a pavement over a broken stand on which banners supporting the SNS had been displayed.

At the same time, not far from the scene of the clash, citizens and students gathered at an intersection at the invitation of the Konjarnik Civic Association in support of the Student List - Students Win candidate list for Serbia's snap general election, Danas newspaper reported. Participants carried numerous banners, chanted "Victory, victory" and "Students Win", and sang popular Serbian songs. Police intervened and separated the two groups - supporters of the Student List and SNS supporters.

Wednesday night's incident came amid a series of clashes in recent days between SNS supporters and backers of the Student List.

On October 6, SNS supporters blocked an intersection in Belgrade's Konjarnik neighbourhood and attacked citizens supporting the Students List. Similar clashes have also taken place in Novi Sad and Valjevo in recent days, Serbian media reported.

Former President Aleksandar Vucic called on his supporters not to respond to provocations and to avoid verbal and physical confrontations. He made this statement following an incident involving Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Sapic, in which opposition municipal councillor Tatjana Micic was injured and suffered a broken nose and facial bone.