(9 Sep 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Belgrade - 9 September 2023
1. Various of march
2. Banner reading (Serbian) "I walk for equality”
3. Pan of the march
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrej (only name given), local resident/marcher:
”Considering I think that last year the Euro Pride was a big step forward, and I think we have seen, basically, almost there has not been any bad news or expectations, so I am expecting it to be a good way toward normalization of these kind of events.”
5. Wide of person holding flags
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Nastya (only name given), marcher from Russia:
“We are all celebrating, all of my friends. It is our first time here at the Pride, because in Russia it is not allowed, you know. We had some private, in the shelter things in Russia but nowadays it is free and open here and we are happy to just be part of this event here. So it is an honor that we are invited also.”
7. Mid of banner reading (English) "Queer liberation not rainbow capitalism”
8. People marching
9. Police in front of anti Pride protestors
10. Wide of anti-Pride protesters
11. Mid of person holding a cross, police in foreground
12. Various of anti-Pride protesters holding a banner reading (Serbian) "I don’t want a gay parade in Belgrade”
13. Various of Pride march
STORYLINE:
Hundreds of Pride activists gathered in the Serbian capital Saturday amid a heavy police presence and anti-gay messages sent by the country’s conservative leadership and far-right groups.
Last year, the LGBTQ+ event was marred by skirmishes between the police and anti-Pride groups who believe the event goes against traditional Serbian Christian Orthodox values and should be banned.
The participants of the march on Saturday held banners reading “We Are Not Even Close” — referring to the current status of the gay population is Serbia — as well as “Marriage” and “Queer liberation not rainbow capitalism.”
In a rally against the march, about 50 anti-Pride march protesters and Orthodox priests held religious icons in front of a downtown church as the Pride event participants passed by.
A group of anti-gay activists held a banner on the main downtown street reading “I don’t want a gay parade in Belgrade.”
Ahead of the 11th consecutive pride event held in Serbia, its populist President Aleksandar Vucic said that as long he is in power, he would not approve a law approving same sex marriages or partnerships.
He also said that he did not allow rainbow colored flags to be placed on flags at his downtown office.
Serbia’s Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, a close Vucic ally, is the Balkan country’s first openly gay politician.
She has, however, rarely spoken in favor of LGBTQ+ rights in Serbia.
Ahead of the Pride event, the embassies and representative offices of 25 countries and the European Union delegation in Serbia issued a joint statement of support for the values of Pride and urging protection of the rights of LGBTQ+ persons.
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