Vučić on Valjevo: If anyone received more blows, I am sorry; those who beat police should not evade responsibility

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has stated that any law enforcement official responsible for exceeding their authority during the use of force should be held accountable. His remarks came in response to a question about violence during a protest in Valjevo on August 14th of the previous year.

“

I have no problem saying that everyone who is responsible for exceeding their authority in the use of force should be held accountable. If it happened that anyone received one, two, or three more blows due to excessive force – I am extremely sorry for that. And it is known how disciplinary and other procedures work in the police; they should be held accountable.

"If it happened that anyone received one, two, or three more blows due to excessive force – I am extremely sorry for that. And it is known how disciplinary and other procedures work in the police; they should be held accountable," Vučić said. He emphasized that the state never shies away from responsibility.

However, Vučić also directed criticism towards media outlets he described as "mistakenly called professional." He pointed out that during the Valjevo protest, an entire building was burned down by demonstrators, and the lives of residents were endangered. He argued that those who "provoked and beat police officers, threw everything possible at them, and committed numerous criminal offenses" should also face responsibility.

“

The state never flees from responsibility, but "the others" should not flee from responsibility either, who provoked the police, beat them, threw everything possible at them, and committed numerous criminal offenses.

Looking ahead, Vučić urged citizens to focus on unity rather than celebrating divisions. He expressed confidence in winning the upcoming elections more decisively than expected. "When the elections are over, we need a united country," he stated during a visit to Expo.

“

I call on all citizens, not to celebrate our divisions, but to concentrate on how to be united. The elections will end soon, we will win those elections more convincingly than you expect. When the elections are over, we need a united country.