Ombudsman Robert Dobrovodsky has contacted his Serbian counterpart Zoran Pasalic by phone and letter, asking for an investigation into the police's procedure in the Serbian town of Backi Petrovac in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina during what reportedly occurred during the Slovak National Festivities in the town over the weekend.
"The ombudsman has expressed serious concerns over allegations that the local police failed to intervene and protect the victims during the attacks. In addition, the police allegedly blocked access roads into the town on the next day, preventing people from coming and supporting the organisers of the exhibition," said Gigac.
Dobrovodsky stressed that the accusations raise serious questions about the impartiality of the police and respect for the rule of law. "The reported inaction of the police and their alleged subsequent move to block access to the town raise serious questions about their neutrality and respect for due process," he said.
Chairman of the opposition PS party Michal Simecka meet with compatriots in the town of Backi Petrovac on Wednesday and said the Slovak minority in Vojvodina is afraid of further violence and Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) should immediately address the situation via diplomatic channels.
"Compatriots confirm fears that the police and local authorities are quietly tolerating these attacks on them. This is not a dispute between ordinary Serbs and Slovaks, relations between people are good, the problem is the systematic oppression of free-thinking people by the government authorities. There is a dangerous ethnic dimension added since they are ethnic Slovaks, and they lack any support and protection. In this situation, Foreign Minister Blanar must immediately summon the Serbian ambassador," stressed Simecka.
An attack on an exhibition of photographs documenting student protests in Serbia took place at the Slovak National Festivities in Backi Petrovac - a town in which ethnic Slovaks make up the majority of the population - on Saturday (August 9). The exhibition was organised by the Slovak minority. The conflict, including skirmishes, took place between members of President Aleksandar Vucic's governing Serbian Progressive Party and the people who had prepared the exhibition of photographs of anti-government protests. During the clash, the photographs on display were damaged, and several people sustained minor injuries.
Source: TASR
