Attack on Dean Marks Escalation of Tensions in Serbian Society
A student protest in Niš turns violent as the Faculty of Philosophy Dean is attacked amid calls for political change.
A violent incident unfolded in Niš as Natalija Jovanović, the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Niš, was stabbed during a gathering of students and citizens organizing for a protest scheduled for noon.
Following the attack, Jovanović was urgently transported to the Emergency Center, where medical staff treated her injuries, and she was later released from the hospital.
Reports indicate that the attack began when a woman threw a full tin can at Jovanović outside the Law Faculty before subsequently brandishing a knife and stabbing her in the palm.
Witnesses noted that Jovanović was attempting to defend herself from the assailant, who was allegedly verbally assaulting her and accusing her of influencing her daughter to join the student protest.
In a joint statement issued by ProGlas and the Alliance of Free Organizations of Serbia, the groups described the incident as part of a broader pattern of verbal and physical violence against representatives of an emerging dissenting society.
They highlighted various forms of aggression, including President's public labeling of Dean Jovanović as a 'criminal' and calls for the arrest of Vladan Đokić, the rector of the University of Belgrade.
The organizations stated, "These attacks indicate that the current regime can no longer manage society except through force and repression." They called for the establishment of a government of social trust, proposing a limited mandate focused on addressing student demands and facilitating free and fair elections.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of increasing tensions regarding the political climate in Serbia, with ongoing demands for reforms aimed at dismantling what protesters describe as a 'partocratic state' characterized by legal inequality and a lack of adherence to the rule of law.
The attack on Jovanović has garnered attention amidst a series of incidents including assaults on students from the University of Novi Sad and allegations of unlawful non-payment of salaries to educational workers.
Witnesses to the attack intervened quickly, preventing the assailant from inflicting further injuries on Jovanović.
The climate surrounding this protest reflects the growing unrest within segments of the Serbian populace demanding systemic changes.
Following the attack, Jovanović was urgently transported to the Emergency Center, where medical staff treated her injuries, and she was later released from the hospital.
Reports indicate that the attack began when a woman threw a full tin can at Jovanović outside the Law Faculty before subsequently brandishing a knife and stabbing her in the palm.
Witnesses noted that Jovanović was attempting to defend herself from the assailant, who was allegedly verbally assaulting her and accusing her of influencing her daughter to join the student protest.
In a joint statement issued by ProGlas and the Alliance of Free Organizations of Serbia, the groups described the incident as part of a broader pattern of verbal and physical violence against representatives of an emerging dissenting society.
They highlighted various forms of aggression, including President's public labeling of Dean Jovanović as a 'criminal' and calls for the arrest of Vladan Đokić, the rector of the University of Belgrade.
The organizations stated, "These attacks indicate that the current regime can no longer manage society except through force and repression." They called for the establishment of a government of social trust, proposing a limited mandate focused on addressing student demands and facilitating free and fair elections.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of increasing tensions regarding the political climate in Serbia, with ongoing demands for reforms aimed at dismantling what protesters describe as a 'partocratic state' characterized by legal inequality and a lack of adherence to the rule of law.
The attack on Jovanović has garnered attention amidst a series of incidents including assaults on students from the University of Novi Sad and allegations of unlawful non-payment of salaries to educational workers.
Witnesses to the attack intervened quickly, preventing the assailant from inflicting further injuries on Jovanović.
The climate surrounding this protest reflects the growing unrest within segments of the Serbian populace demanding systemic changes.
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