Serbian students to gather in Kragujevac seeking justice over train station deaths
On Thursday, Serbian students from multiple cities icluding the capital Belgrade continued to march toward the central city of Kragujevac for a protest rally set for Saturday.
The demonstrations led by university students demand accountability and justice for the deaths of 15 people in a train station awning collapse last November, which critics have blamed on government corruption.
University and high school students from cities such as Niš, Čačak, Užice, Kraljevo, Gornji Milanovac and Novi Pazar all plan to arrive in Kragujevac by Saturday.
The anti-corruption protests have also taken aim at the government of President Aleksandar Vučić, who has vowed to defeat what he calls a 'colour revolution' aimed at overthrowing him.
The student-led movement has already led to the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, a close ally of Vučić and the leader of his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
The Kragujevac rally will coincide with Serbia's Statehood Day — when Vučić plans to hold a counter-rally in Novi Sad.
The date also coincides with the Orthodox Christian holiday of Candlemas or the Feast of the Holy Encounter. The first Serbian constitution was declared in Kragujevac in 1835.
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Euronews
a day ago
- Euronews
Serbia's Vučić visits Ukraine for the first time in EU realignment bid
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is visiting Ukraine on Wednesday, in what marks his first ever trip to the country. During a one-day trip, Vučić is scheduled to take part in the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa, Serbia's Presidential Office announced. According to Euronews' European political sources, the Serbian president's participation in the summit signals Serbia's realignment with the EU regarding Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Serbia has positioned itself as neutral when it comes to Russia's war against Ukraine, but Vučić's recent visit to Moscow for Russian President Vladimir Putin's Victory Day parade drew sharp criticism from Brussels regarding Serbia's EU membership bid. Brussels issued a stark warning, indicating that Vučić's visit to Moscow would violate EU membership criteria and potentially hurt Serbia's accession process to the 27-member bloc. According to Euronews' European political sources, Vučić's participation in the summit in Odesa and its symbolism should lead to Brussels reopening and expediting Serbia's EU enlargement chapters. In this context, as a gesture towards Serbia, Ukraine did not invite Kosovo to the summit, the same sources told Euronews. Just recently, Russia accused Serbia of exporting arms to Ukraine, calling it a "stab in the back" from one of Moscow's longest-standing European allies. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) issued a statement claiming that "Serbian defence enterprises, contrary to the 'neutrality' declared by official Belgrade, continue to supply ammunition to Kyiv.' The statement alleged that the export of the Serbian arms to Ukraine was going through NATO intermediaries, "primarily the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria." "Recently, exotic options involving African states have also been used for this purpose," SVR said. Vučić denied the accusations, saying that although a contract with the Czech Republic exists, it does not permit exporting Serbian-made materiel to another country. He also stated Moscow and Belgrade would create a "working group" to establish how Serbian-made weapons reached Ukraine. The Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Odesa will gather representatives from 12 southeastern European countries. Among them is Romanian President Nicusor Dan, who is making his first trip to Ukraine since winning the May election. Russia has regularly targeted the port city of Odesa in missile and drone attacks.** On Tuesday, two people were killed after drone attacks hit residential buildings and medical facilities, including a maternity ward, officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later said 13 people had also been injured there. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended his centrist, pro-European government before parliament on Wednesday, seeking to reassert control and rally his fractured coalition after suffering a bitter political defeat. Tusk requested a vote of confidence in the wake of the loss of Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, a close ally, to conservative Karol Nawrocki in the 1 June presidential runoff. Backed by US President Donald Trump, Nawrocki is set to replace outgoing President Andrzej Duda, another Law and Justice or PiS party-backed conservative who repeatedly blocked Tusk's reform efforts. "I am asking for a vote of confidence with full conviction that we have a mandate to govern, to take full responsibility for what is happening in Poland," Tusk, who heads the Civic Platform (PO) coalition, said in Warsaw. "Anyone who is ready to move forward with me, with the government, and above all with our voters, regardless of these momentary emotions, and build a better Poland, should vote today for a vote of confidence in our government," Tusk said. The vote, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon, is widely expected to go in Tusk's favour. His four-party coalition holds a narrow but stable majority in the 460-seat Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament. A loss would trigger the formation of a caretaker government and may open the door for an early parliamentary election. That could potentially return power to the conservative Law and Justice party, in coalition with the far-right Confederation party, whose candidate placed third in the presidential race. Tusk had long counted on a Trzaskowski victory to break the institutional deadlock created by Duda's vetoes. Instead, he now faces an incoming president aligned with the nationalist opposition and openly hostile to his government's legislative priorities. "We cannot close our eyes to reality," he said. "A president who was reluctant to accept the changes we proposed for Poland and our voters is being replaced by a president who is at least equally reluctant to those changes and proposals." But he also argued that Trzaskowski's narrow defeat indicates that there is continued strong support for those who share his views. The election result rattled the already uneasy governing coalition, which spans from centre-left to centre-right and has struggled to deliver on key campaign pledges, including liberalising Poland's abortion law and legalising same-sex civil unions. Tusk acknowledged the growing strains in Wednesday's address. Many are also blaming Tusk for contributing to Trzaskowski's loss. Much of the criticism has come from within his coalition, as his partners examine whether they are better off sticking with him or risking a collapse of the coalition. Some are calling for a new prime minister to be selected. There are questions about what Tusk can realistically achieve before the next parliamentary election, scheduled for late 2027, and whether the coalition will even survive that long amid a surge in popularity for the far right. Polish media and political analysts are debating whether this might be the 68-year-old Tusk's political twilight. "I know the taste of victory, I know the bitterness of defeat, but I don't know the word surrender," Tusk said. As part of his fresh start, he announced plans for a government reconstruction in July that will include "new faces." He said a government spokesman would be appointed in June, an acknowledgement that the coalition needs a way to present a unified message. So far Tusk has sought to communicate his policies to the public himself on social media and in news conferences. Tusk served as Polish prime minister from 2007 to 2014 and then as president of the European Council from 2014 to 2019. He became Poland's prime minister again in December 2023 in a country hit by the pandemic and inflation and facing significant political divisions. In a sign of those divisions, half of the parliament hall was empty on Wednesday, with lawmakers from the right-wing PiS party boycotting his speech. Tusk said their absence showed disrespect to the nation. Most of the power in Poland's parliamentary system rests with an elected parliament and a government chosen by the parliament. However, the president can veto legislation and represent the country abroad.
France 24
6 days ago
- France 24
Greek artist warns of fanaticism after art vandalised
"This violence is increasingly present in Europe and the United States, where ideas of purity, race or faith fuel nationalism," artist Christophoros Katsadiotis told AFP in an interview on May 29. On March 10, four of Katsadiotis's artworks at Greece's National Gallery were thrown to the ground by two members of extreme-right Orthodox Christian party Niki -- one of them a party lawmaker -- who viewed them as "blasphemous". Two months later, about 30 masked individuals attempted to assault him before an event in Thessaloniki, resulting in the 53-year-old engraver being put under police protection during public appearances. Katsadiotis said the vandalisation incident at the National Gallery was "an attack on democracy... (and) our civilisation". "If I need police protection, then freedom of expression no longer exists. It's a form of censorship," he told AFP on the sidelines of his new exhibition in Athens. The art in question -- four engravings depicting Saint Christopher with a dog's head -- was part of a collective exhibition titled "The Allure of the Bizarre". The two perpetrators, who smashed the glass protecting the engravings, were detained by police but later released. Niki later expelled the lawmaker involved, Nikolaos Papadopoulos, from the party and the National Gallery has sued him. Outcry Katsadiotis is also planning to take legal action. "I was surprised and upset. It was the first time this had happened to me," he said. The incident at the National Gallery sparked an outcry and was condemned by the culture ministry. But the Orthodox Church, which holds broad influence over politics and society in Greece, has publicly criticised parts of the exhibition involving Katsadiotis, who spends his time between Athens and Paris. The Greek Church's governing body, the Holy Synod, voiced "regret" over "the content of certain works in this exhibition" and said it would "take action with the Greek government", without providing further details. Katsadiotis is currently presenting a solo exhibition, including engravings and collages, at the Benaki Museum in Athens. Security was reinforced around the building during the opening last week and police stationed three vehicles outside the entrance, he said. Papadopoulos has continued to publicly condemn the artist's works as "a brutal insult" to sacred Orthodox icons. At the National Gallery, Katsadiotis's engravings are now protected by a transparent panel and an alarm is triggered if visitors get too close. 'Dangerous for the public' The museum, which houses masterpieces of modern Greek and European art, has also increased protection overall due to "ongoing threats against the exhibited works and its staff". "Initially, the idea was to leave the damaged works on the ground to illustrate... the violence," Katsadiotis said. "(But) far-right sympathisers came to trample on them, which was dangerous for the public." Niki, known for its nationalistic and homophobic rhetoric, has 10 MPs in the 300-seat Greek parliament. This is not the first time it has sought to influence art policy. In late 2023, the conservative government took down the work "Flag" by US-Greek artist Georgia Lale from the Greek consulate in New York following a complaint from the ultra-conservative party. The artist had depicted a Greek flag with pink and red stripes instead of its official blue and white colours, to denounce feminicides in Greece. "This decision left the field open for Niki to continue its attacks," said Katsadiotis. He said there was a rise in militant vandalism and warned that "fanaticism" could spiral out of control, offering the example of the fatal attacks in Paris in 2015 after satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo republished caricatures of the prophet Mohammed from the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
Euronews
03-06-2025
- Euronews
France arrests three people over attacks on Jewish sites in Paris
Three Serbian nationals have been arrested in France in connection with the vandalism of Jewish sites in Paris over the weekend, according to local media, with the incident drawing parallels with previous similar cases where Russian involvement was suspected. Three synagogues, a Jewish restaurant and a Holocaust memorial were sprayed with green paint on Saturday in the city's historic Marais district and 20th arrondissement. Authorities in Paris immediately launched an investigation into "damage committed on religious grounds". On Monday, the Serbian nationals were reportedly arrested in the southeastern region of Alpes-Maritimes as they were preparing to leave France. The vandalism bears similarities to two other apparent antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites in Paris in recent years, with authorities stating that there was reason to believe Russian intelligence services were involved in a bid to stir tensions in the French society. A source close to the investigation told AFP that French authorities believed the latest incident was a destabilisation operation from a foreign actor, "given the similarities with the modus operandi used for the 'red hands' graffiti". In May 2024, red hands were painted at the Parisian memorial for those who saved people from the city's Jewish community from Nazi persecution during the 1940-1944 occupation of France. Three Bulgarian nationals were identified by French authorities as being behind the tags. In October 2023, dozens of Stars of David were graffitied on walls in Paris and its outskirts. In that case, two Moldovan nationals were apprehended, according to domestic press. French security services said a Moldovan-Russian businessman was identified as their potential handler. In the 2023 case, media including AFP and Le Monde cited French intelligence sources saying that that the vandalism had been "commissioned by Russian security services". Moscow denied any involvement and described the reports as "stupid" and "outrageous". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticised his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over the latest vandalism, saying he must do more to clamp down on antisemitism in France. The country has a large Jewish population, which has made it a frequent flashpoint for rising antisemitism. In recent years, reports of antisemitic incidents have surged in France, with a sharp rise reported in 2023 after the 7 October Hamas attacks in Israel. Proposals to allow charging air passengers for carry-on cabin baggage and only permit compensation for longer delays to flights are set to be wrangled by EU countries' ambassadors meeting on Wednesday, according to two sources familiar with the issue. The proposals are part of a wider project to reform EU air passenger rights on the negotiating set to be negotiated by member states on Wednesday before presentation to a meeting of the 27 transport ministers on Thursday. The draft proposes creating a new free hand luggage item, one that can be slipped under the seat, leaving other stowed cabin bags exposed to charges. The outcome of this cabin baggage tax is sensitive, and its adoption is far from certain, sources said. The debate heated up last month after European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) lodged a complaint. In all, 16 consumer protection associations from 12 Member States are accusing seven low-cost airlines of charging passengers undue fees for their hand luggage. "The European Court of Justice has made it very clear that hand baggage is an integral part of the basic ticket price. Normally, there is no surcharge on the price as long as the hand luggage is of a reasonable size," said Steven Berger, a lawyer with the European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC). "All we're seeing is a proliferation of airlines charging for this baggage (...) we're calling for very clear rules. Passengers must be able to take one piece of luggage, a small suitcase or a rucksack," he added. European airlines have a different interpretation of the case law. Kevin Hiney, Communications Director of A4E (Airlines for Europe), pointed out that "under European law and the single market, airlines have the right to unbundle their services in order to offer the best possible package to passengers". For the organisation, which represents 17 airlines in Europe and 80% of European air traffic, the proposal on the table merely seeks to harmonise different approaches between companies on this cabin baggage. "I think it's important to stress that what the current proposal from the Poles (the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU) is doing is setting the dimensions of these personal items to ensure clarity and transparency for all passengers, as well as for the airlines," said Kevin Hiney. In this political battle, consumers should be able to count on Spain to make their voice heard. Last November, Madrid condemned five airlines for abusive practices. The €179 million fine concerns, among other things, these extra charges on hand luggage. A proposal to revise the 2004 European regulations on compensation for delays also set to be discussed by ambassadors on Wednesday is also causing concern among civil society, carriers and governments. Passenger groups and airlines both want to see the rules revised, but in different ways. A European Commission proposal presented in 2013 envisaged extending the time limit required to trigger compensation to 5 hours of delay. The text presented to the member states by the Polish Presidency now moves in this same direction, proposing to extend the time limit for claiming primary compensation to 4 hours, with a second step from 6 hours depending on the distance of the journey. At present, compensation of between €250 and €600 euros can be claimed for delays of 3 hours or more. The European directive applies to all flights departing from an EU airport, regardless of the nationality of the airline, and to flights arriving at EU airports if they are operated by an EU airline. It does not apply to flights to Europe operated by non-EU airlines, or to non-EU flights with a stopover in Europe. For A4E, the proposal is a step in the right direction. "We believe that the compensation thresholds should be extended to allow us to have a chance of recovering flight schedules when things go wrong," explains Kevin Hiney. "In the event of a mechanical problem, airlines have to find a replacement aircraft or crew, which takes time," he pointed out. "By adjusting the thresholds for compensation for delays, we will have a fighting chance to make these changes, to put in place the new aircraft and crew," said Kevin Hiney. According to BEUC, the proposed reform would deprive a very large number of passengers of compensation. "If the text is voted on as it stands between the member states, before negotiations with the Parliament, we will be sending out a very bad signal to European consumers by going back on rights that are really fundamental when travelling," says Steven Berger. However, the outcome of the negotiations is uncertain. "At the moment, there are two different opposing positions among the member states in the Council. On the whole, you have the camp of the member states that are going to defend the three hours to be able to benefit from the right to compensation and others that are going to ask for five hours and nine hours based on distance. So right now this is really the big source of conflict," said Steven Berger. Just ten or so countries would constitute a blocking minority within the EU Council. Before the ambassadors' meeting, Germany and Spain seemed to be opposed to any change in the compensation rules. However, it is the entire revision that must be validated or rejected. In other words, opposing changes to the compensation rules will bring down the whole reform.
