Milivojevic Urges Serbian Railways to Run Trains Oct 22
Democratic Party leader Srdjan Milivojevic told Serbian Railways not to block passengers heading to the Student List rally in Belgrade, citing the May 23 shutdown.
Serbian Railways should not suspend service on the day of the Student List’s pre-election rally, Democratic Party (DS) president Srdjan Milivojevic said in a statement the party released on October 15. The rally is announced for October 22 in Belgrade. Nova.rs reports that it is set for Slavija, while N1 does not name a location.
Milivojevic wants the management of Serbian Railways not to interfere with citizens traveling to and from the rally by train. He also called on those in charge at the company to do their jobs professionally and in line with the law, not on the orders of people who fear for their hold on power. That is his political assessment, not an established fact.
What happened on May 23?
Milivojevic points to the suspension of rail traffic on May 23, the day of a protest in Belgrade called by the students in blockade. According to him, traffic was halted then on the grounds that an anonymous tip had warned of planted explosive devices. His assessment of that decision reads:
“Under the pretext of an anonymous tip about planted explosive devices, they suspended railway traffic, causing panic among the population and preventing citizens from using rail transport on a day when 200,000 people gathered in Belgrade, causing major material damage not only to citizens but also to Serbia’s economy.”
The figure of 200,000 people is Milivojevic’s own estimate from the statement, not a number confirmed by a third party. The same goes for his claim of major material damage to citizens and the economy.
Criminal complaint against the acting head of Serbian Railways Infrastructure
The DS president recalls that he personally filed a criminal complaint against Zoran Jevtic, acting general director of Serbian Railways Infrastructure, and unidentified persons. The complaint alleges abuse of office through the May 23 suspension of traffic. According to a notice he received from the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office, the complaint was forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime. Milivojevic does not say in the statement what that office has done with it since.
Ahead of the October 22 rally, he invokes the complaint to hold officials accountable, saying:
“Ahead of the biggest pre-election rally in our country’s history, scheduled for October 22, where the majority and decent Serbia that supports the Student List and inevitable political change will gather, I once again warn those responsible for railway traffic not to use Radical-style tricks and Progressive meanness to obstruct the smooth transport of citizens, their arrival in and departure from Belgrade.”
How did Milivojevic close his warning?
The statement ends with a direct message to the railway management, along with a preview of what he expects after the elections:
“That is why I once again warn those responsible at Serbian Railways to do their jobs responsibly, professionally and in line with the law, and not on the dictate of those gripped by panic over losing power, ready to do anything to hold on to it. The time of freedom is coming, and justice after it. There will be no amnesty.”
Serbian Railways, Serbian Railways Infrastructure and Srbijavoz had not responded to these claims by the time media reports on the statement were published, so their position is not known for now.
Rail travel is a new angle in this story. We have already reported on the walking columns heading for Slavija ahead of the rally, including the one from Zajecar that sets out on October 16. Milivojevic’s warning adds a question: will trains run as usual on October 22? So far there is no answer.
