Serbian Writer Claims Attackers Were 'Young People Doing the State's Dirty Work'

Serbian writer and KROKODIL festival program director Vladimir Arsenijevic stated that the group who attacked him were young people "instrumentalized by the state." The assault occurred just before a Srebrenica genocide commemoration event in Belgrade.

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They have been instrumentalised by various groups and are doing the state's dirty work. It is clear why they accepted everything they were fed while growing up.

Speaking to TV Nova, Arsenijevic, who is recovering from the attack, expressed no surprise at the authorities' silence. "We have become used to this. I'm not surprised that it happened because we have been living in this kind of environment for a very long time," he said. He characterized the attackers as manipulated individuals carrying out the state's "dirty work."

Recounting the incident, Arsenijević said a group surrounded him immediately after he exited a taxi. A smaller contingent then approached him directly, shouting insults, getting in his face, and physically assaulting him while threatening him. He was told he was first on their list and that his end had come.

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We have become used to this. I'm not surprised that it happened because we have been living in this kind of environment for a very long time.

While Arsenijević acknowledged the police officers who responded acted professionally, he criticized the lack of progress in the investigation after he reported the assault. The attack took place near Branko's Bridge in central Belgrade.

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As soon as I got out of the taxi, they came towards me and surrounded me. Then a smaller group of five or six broke away from the larger crowd. I don't want to repeat the insults they shouted at me. They got in my face and then started hitting me while threatening me, saying I was first on their list and that my end had come.