Defense Ministry reacts to allegations about its activities during March 15 protest: "Malicious claims..."

Photo:Tanjug/Jadranka Ilic

The Serbian Ministry of Defense has issued a statement regarding the protest held in Belgrade held the previous weekend, and we carry it in full:

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"Regarding the allegations made by certain opposition politicians about the Serbian Armed Forces' activities conducted in the period before and during the protests held in Belgrade on March 15, 2025, we stress that these are malicious claims that have no basis in reality.

This is fake news and an attempt to cause a public disturbance in order to score minor political points. The Serbian Armed Forces strongly condemn spreading fake news as one sees fit and dismiss the information that our armed forces were preparing to break up the protest or that they used some coercive means, much less a prohibited one that they do not possess.

The Serbian Armed Forces are the armed forces of all citizens, they are ideologically neutral, disinterested and non-partisan and carry out their missions and tasks in accordance with the Constitution, law and the principles of international law.

In order to inform the public truthfully, we stress that none of the Serbian Armed Forces units were in an increased state of combat readiness or on high alert.

At the request of the Ministry of the Interior and in accordance with the Law on the Serbian Armed Forces, a certain number of military police personnel provided assistance to the Ministry of the Interior in guarding public administration buildings, as well as the Ministry of Defense and the Serbian Armed Forces buildings.

In accordance with their missions and tasks, the Serbian Armed Forces perform a wide range of tasks throughout the Republic of Serbia on a regular and daily basis, including the movement of units, parts of units and combat assets according to the needs of the Serbian Armed Forces, assessments made by commanders in charge, as well as for the purposes of training and regular maintenance."

(Telegraf.rs)