Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday denounced “a political hunt” against Novak Djokovic, whose visa was canceled by Australian authorities, while the player’s father considered that his son, like Jesus, was “crucified” .
In Belgrade, hundreds of people gathered at the call of Novak Djokovic’s father, Srdjan, to support the world number one star in his country.
“What is not fair play is the political hunt (against Djokovic, editor’s note) in which all participate, from the Prime Minister of Australia, claiming that the rules are valid for all”, declared the President Aleksandar Vucic to the press.
The Serbian authorities, he stressed, are doing “everything possible” to help Djokovic, adding that Belgrade has contacted the Australian ambassador to Serbia twice and that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic is to meet with a senior official of the Australian Department of Immigration and Borders.
Belgrade intends to ask the Australian authorities to allow Djokovic to stay in the house he had rented for the Australian Open and not in the hotel which serves as a detention center, where he is currently and which Mr. Vucic called it “infamous in the true sense of the word”.
“I’m afraid that kind of political hunger on Novak will continue, because when you can’t beat someone then you turn to this stuff,” he added.
For his part, the player’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, insisted in front of the demonstrators in Belgrade that he was asking “for support (for his son), not violence”.
“Crucified Novak”
“He fulfilled all the conditions necessary for his entry and his participation in the tournament which he would have won of course. Because it is about Novak, the best tennis player and sportsman of the world ”, he had previously declared during a press conference.
“Jesus was crucified and subjected to many things, but he held and is still alive among us. Novak is also crucified in the same way, he the best sportsman and man in the world. He will hold on, ”said Djokovic senior.
During the demonstration, many demonstrators waved Serbian flags but also placards.
“They are afraid of the best, stop corona-fascism”, we read on one of them.
Residents of the capital had mixed opinions on Novak Djokovic’s journey.
“They (the Australians, note) do not let in people from another continent who have even mud on their shoes, let alone someone who has not been vaccinated. I don’t know what he (Novak, editor’s note) was expecting, ”said AFP Mihailo Kljajic, a 29-year-old stewart.
But others were outraged: “It’s chaotic, crazy and disgusting,” regretted Branka Vuksanovic, a pensioner.
Djokovic, who maintains the mystery of his vaccine status in relation to Covid-19, was turned away Wednesday evening upon his arrival in Melbourne where he intended to participate in the Australian Open tennis tournament which takes place from January 17 to 30.