in Belgrade, thousands of LGBT+ activists march despite the authorities’ ban

Thousands of members of the LGBT+ community marched on Saturday, September 17 in Belgrade (Serbia) under high police protection despite the banning of this Europride march by the authorities, who arrested 64 people. The parade itself, supposed to be the high point of this pan-European event which takes place each year in a different city, passed off without notable incident.

But according to local media, clashes pitted the police against counter-demonstrators. The Serbian Interior Ministry had banned the march on Tuesday, citing security concerns as far-right groups threatened to stage their own protests after a series of counter-Pride in the capital.

Sukobi desničara i policije na ulicama Beograda tokom održavanja Europridea pic.twitter.com/ir5zBi7GMI

— Istraga.ba (@IstragaB) September 17, 2022

The demonstrators were nevertheless able to travel a few hundred meters on Saturday in the rain, between the Constitutional Council and a nearby park, a much shorter journey than the pride march initially planned.

Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin assured that the ban had been implemented, and that it was people “escorted to a concert”. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, openly lesbian, announced that 64 people had been arrested and 10 policemen injured on Saturday, while stressing that she was “proud” that the day is over “without serious incident”.

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except hate, homophobia, misogyny, darkness, past, repression, ignorance #EuroPride2022 #BelgradePride #BelgradePride2022 #europride pic.twitter.com/JIUf1EgbJC

— Milan Nikolic (@Milan__Nikolic) September 17, 2022

Large riot police had been deployed around the rally and repelled small groups of counter-protesters brandishing crosses and religious insignia, according to AFP journalists. The Home Office had also banned counter-demonstrations, but in far-right chat rooms, users had promised to protest Pride.

According to N1 television, scuffles occurred between police and counter-demonstrators, the latter throwing smoke bombs at the police, several of whose vehicles were damaged. AFP journalists saw several counter-demonstrators being arrested.

Marriage between people of the same sex is not legal in this Balkan country of less than seven million inhabitants, where homophobia is deeply rooted despite some progress against discrimination.