SRCE: Šapić Obligated to Order Graffiti Removal and Prosecute Perpetrators

The Srbija centar (SRCE) party has sharply criticized Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Šapić, accusing him of inaction and silence regarding the pervasive issue of offensive and threatening graffiti appearing across the city. SRCE asserts that the widespread vandalism, targeting private residences, apartment buildings, and public institutions, is not a random act but a "mass and organized action, ordered from a single center."

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Očigledno je da je ispisivanje grafita uvredljive i preteće sadržine na privatnim objektima, stambenim zgradama, ali i na ustanovama od javnog značaja – školama, fakultetima i drugim institucijama, masovna i organizovana akcija, naručena iz jednog centra.

According to SRCE, the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is directly responsible for this "organized vandalism," alleging that the party has been using national television channels to disseminate messages of hate and to intimidate citizens about the potential consequences of their party losing power. This framing positions the graffiti as a tool of political intimidation, directly linked to the ruling party's alleged fear of upcoming elections.

SRCE insists that Mayor Šapić has a clear obligation to publicly address the situation, condemn the hate speech, and initiate legal proceedings to identify and hold the perpetrators accountable. They point to the 2019 Decision on Graffiti Cleaning, which designates graffiti removal from public facilities as a municipal service funded by the city budget. Šapić's alleged "flight from responsibility" and lack of reaction, SRCE argues, implies that such acts of property destruction are acceptable to him. The party emphasizes that when graffiti involves hate speech, threats, or incitement to violence, it transcends a mere municipal offense, necessitating intervention by the regular police and prosecution.

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Za ovaj organizovani vandalizam direktno je odgovoran vrh SNS, koji danima preko televizija sa nacionalnom frekvencijom širi poruke mržnje i zastrašuje građane o posledicama njihovog silaska sa vlasti

From a local perspective in Serbia, this incident highlights the charged political atmosphere and the tactics allegedly employed by ruling parties to maintain control. SRCE's statement reflects a deep-seated concern about the normalization of hate speech and political intimidation, particularly when it appears to be state-sanctioned or tolerated. The demand for accountability and the invocation of specific municipal regulations underscore a local understanding of civic responsibility and the expected role of city leadership. The party's framing suggests that Western media might overlook the nuances of this political struggle, focusing only on the surface-level vandalism rather than its perceived deeper political motivations and implications for democratic expression in Serbia.

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Bežanje Šapića od odgovornosti u ovom slučaju i odsustvo bilo kakve reakcije znači da su za njega takvi natpisi i uništavanje imovine prihvatljivi.