Serbian President Calls Protesters 'Nazis'

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic promised this Sunday to take "surprising" and decisive measures against protesters who have been accusing the government of being authoritarian and corrupt for nine months, and whom he has compared to Nazis and terrorists.

"You will see the determination of the Serbian state. We will do everything possible to restore order and peace. We will confront all external pressures, all those who threaten us and tell us what we can and cannot do," he declared at a press conference, in which he described the protesters' behavior as "authentic terrorism."

The ongoing massive protests, led by university students, have turned violent in recent days, with attacks on the headquarters of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Vucic's party, and clashes with police and supporters of the President, resulting in dozens of injuries and arrests.

The Interior Ministry announced that 56 violent protesters were arrested and six police officers were injured during Saturday night's riots in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Valjevo, where the Public Prosecutor's Office building was set on fire.

Vucic, who has been in power for 13 years, claimed that "thugs" had taken over the streets and predicted that protesters would soon begin committing murders. "If we don't take decisive action, they will start killing us, I say this without exaggeration," he declared.

The President rejected declaring a state of emergency, arguing that such a measure is too complex and requires approval from Parliament, where he holds an absolute majority. Without explaining what he meant, he stated that there are other measures he can take and that he needs a few days to "prepare the State's response from a legal and formal standpoint."

Vucic compared the situation in Serbia to the time when the Nazis consolidated power in Germany through terror in the 1930s.

Over the past four days, demonstrations have turned violent, after more than 80 protesters were injured on Wednesday in what they described as brutal attacks by “thugs” from the National Socialist Workers' Union (SNSS) and police against peaceful citizens.

In a message published Friday night, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, deplored "the disproportionate use of force by the police" and reiterated the call for authorities to "avoid excessive use of force, end arbitrary arrests and reduce tensions."

According to the government, the violence was caused exclusively by the protesters, allegedly supported by Western countries.

The wave of mass protests began after a roof collapsed at the newly renovated Novi Sad railway station on November 1st of last year, killing 16 people. The initial demand for accountability and transparency regarding the project's award and execution, carried out by Chinese companies, transformed into a denunciation of government authoritarianism and calls for improvements in the rule of law and the holding of early elections.