Defense Minister Gasic: What's happening now is abuse of democracy

Defense Minister Bratislav Gasic said today that protests organized by "a handful of opposition representatives" are turning into organized harassment of the residents of Belgrade and the citizens of Serbia.

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"The events that we are witnessing these days in the streets of our capital represent a classic case of abuse of democracy and civil liberties. A handful of opposition representatives, who have the opportunity to express their political views in the National Assembly, have instead decided to instead block traffic in several places in Belgrade.

A part of the citizens elected them to represent their views in the Assembly - but they clearly think that the street is a better place for that. Such behavior is worthy of all manner of condemnation," Gasic said, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense.

He underlined that resignations submitted by Serbian government ministers - over the Novi Sad railway tragedy - is an example of taking political responsibility in a way that's unprecedented in the recent history of our country.

"Is this kind of behavior (by the opposition) the image of a state and society that the so-called opposition is offering to us? Is vandalizing the City Hall in Novi Sad an example of the kind of behavior endorsed by that group of politicians? Obviously, it is. And the citizens see that. This is seen especially clearly by those citizens who were prevented from moving in the streets of Belgrade, because of a small group of angry and frustrated politicians," said Gasic.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)