Tense Atmosphere in Vranje Ahead of Pride Caravan Amid Threats

Vranje, Serbia, is experiencing a tense atmosphere as two events are scheduled for the same day: a "Pride Caravan" organized by the association "Da se zna!" and a counter-event called "Family Walk."

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Family walks go hand in hand with beatings.

Initially, Slađan Ristić, a representative for the Alliance of Free Trade Unions of Serbia for Southern Serbia, threatened journalists reporting on the Pride Caravan. He also announced the "Family Walk" counter-protest on Facebook, stating it would happen "with beatings promised." Ristić later claimed his comment was made in anger and expressed in haste. It remains uncertain if the counter-protest will actually take place.

Sanja Petrov, a journalist from the local publication "Slobodna reč," told N1 that the organizers of the "Pride Caravan" have chosen not to announce the exact time of their event due to security concerns. While unofficial information suggested the "Family Walk" was planned for 11 a.m., Petrov observed no signs of any planned gathering during a walk through the city. She noted a lack of announcements regarding the "Family Walk" in local media in recent days, further questioning its likelihood.

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There are unofficial reports that the 'Family Walk' was scheduled for 11 a.m., but I walked through the city, and it doesn't seem like any gathering is being planned. There haven't been announcements in local media about the so-called 'Family Walk' in recent days; it's questionable whether it will happen.

Petrov stated that the threats and insults were not surprising, but this was the first instance of explicit threats of physical violence. As an editor, she reported the incident to the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), which forwarded the case to the Republic Public Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime. Petrov confirmed that authorities took her statement and inquired about her well-being and any further contact from the individual, but provided no further information beyond acknowledging the case's registration.

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We didn't understand how traditional values and family walks go hand in hand with beatings, and secondly, why a trade union is involved in this instead of addressing the problem of workers in Vranje factories working without air conditioning in this heat. The purpose of that union is questionable if they are involved in these matters.

She recalled that when a similar "Pride Caravan" event occurred in 2019, there was no such reaction. Petrov observed a concerning rise in violence, which has now reached smaller cities like Vranje. She criticized the perceived hypocrisy of some local figures who publicly associate with LGBTQ+ community members while remaining silent or implicitly supportive of threats and insults. Petrov also questioned the purpose of a trade union engaging in such activities instead of addressing workers' issues, such as extreme heat in factories.

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The fact that we have such a reaction after a few years only confirms what we have been saying for some time: that this eruption of violence is happening everywhere, and it hasn't bypassed a place like Vranje.