Serbian students ride bicycles for hundreds of miles, bringing their dissatisfaction to the EU
Strasbourg, France (AP) – Students from the University of Serbia said their Serbian University students who fought for justice were welcomed by heroes on Tuesday at the European Centre. They ride over 1300 kilometers (780 miles) from the Balkan countries.
About 80 students were cycling to Strasbourg, France 13 days ago with the aim of attracting the EU’s attention to point out their months of protests against the corruption of the Balkans. Serbia has formally sought membership in the G27 but has been backing against democracy, freedom and the rule of law.
They were emotionally welcomed by hundreds of people, including Serbian diaspora and French students as well as supporters, and after arriving at the main square of Strasbourg, where the European Parliament convention was held.
“I think this protest is a comprehensive success,” said one of the cyclists on a live N1 TV broadcast from Strasbourg. “I think we’ve awakened Europe.”
Students at the University of Serbia have been a major force behind the national anti-greed movement, including almost daily street demonstrations that shocked the President of the Balkan state Aleksandar Vucic. Although they have received enormous support at home and throughout the Balkans, many students believe they are not well supported by the EU.
The students cycled 100-150 km (60-90 miles) every day through Hungary, Slovakia, Austria and Germany before reaching Strasbourg, where they were welcomed by Serbs who lived abroad and received Serbs from the EU.
They bravely harsh rains and cold temperatures throughout their journey throughout Europe, including heroes of supporters of Budapest, Vienna and German towns.
The Serbian-led protests were caused by the death of 16 people in the fall of the deadly train station in November, widely blamed for rampant corruption. Since then, they have reflected even more dissatisfaction with the situation of democratic freedom in Serbia.
Protesters have been demanding justice for victims of the Nov. 1 canopy collapse and ended the government’s pressure and violence against protesters.
Vucic and its pro-government media accuse students and their professors of confronting the state to overturn his powers with the unidentified Western security sector. He provided no evidence for his claims.
The EU’s response to the majority of peaceful student-led protests was frigid, and officials avoided criticizing Vucic. They clearly believe he was a key factor in maintaining peace in the region that experienced a series of devastating wars in the 1990s.
In Strasbourg, students plan to visit the European Parliament and the European Parliament.
Since taking office a decade ago, Vucic has been accused of stifling democracy and freedoms while maintaining close ties with Russia and China.
In Serbia on Tuesday, student-led protesters temporarily blocked the entrance to Vucic’s main propaganda TV station RTS and the northern town of Novi Sad Sad in protest of its coverage of the event.
