At the moment more than 800 people have been arrested for participation in the gay parade's dispersal on the 10th of October in Belgrade. But the arrests are going on. Thousands of people are on the list, including those who didn't go out to the Belgrade's streets at all on October the 10th, but who are just known to the police and BIA as supporters of nationalist organizations. Arrests of such scales are no longer arrests, but internment. Similar measures were taken by the British government in the 70th, when hundreds and thousands of Irish nationalists were interned in camps with no investigation or trial, what led to protracted and bloody armed struggle. Exactly after those repressions IRA was revived in Ulster.
Having come to power in 2000 as a result of Orange revolution, present regime perfectly realizes the power of a street protest. Therefore, on the threshold of economic collapse, president Boris Tadic decided to secure his power by means of preventive repressions. In 2000 nationalists were used as infantry, for what they received praise as patriots from the new authorities. However, today the same people are stigmatized as extremists and hundreds are being arrested.
So what terrible thing happened in Belgrade on October the 10th? A couple of hundreds of manifestants, the half of whom were foreigners from EU, went to a so-called "Pride Parade" encircled by the police. Their security was ensured by nearly 6000 policemen with helicopters. What was going on resembled combined military operations rather than ensuring of a peaceful march.
The day before that, Serbian Orthodox movement "Dveri" brought out on the streets about ten thousand opponents of the gay parade. That peaceful event was called "Family walk". The next day the protests were less peaceful. About 6000 young Serbs, both from the capital and other towns, participated in clashes with the police. Damage to the city amounted to one million euro, while it turned out that there were about 150 injured on both sides. Those who sanctioned the gay parade - the governing party of president Boris Tadic - DS (Democratic Party), got it as well. One of its offices was set on fire by Molotov cocktail. Also, for old times' sake protesters stoned office of Socialist Party - which was party in power under Slobodan Milosevic - and by tradition attacked the building of one of the broadcasting companies - this time it was RTS.
REPRESSIONS
B-92 - Serbian analogue of the domestic "Echo of Moscow", claims that "the unrest during the Pride Parade was controlled by at the least 6 leaders of different groups, who were coordinated by the arrested leader of "Obraz" Mladen Obradovic". Among the leaders of these groups there is Elena Obradovic - Mladen's wife, "Vecerne Novosti" paper says. Despite the fact that Elena was pregnant, the policemen decided that it was necessary to arrest her for nearly twenty-four hours.
"Several days before the so-called "Gay parade" in the flat of Obradovic there were held meetings, at which was developed a plan of attacks on participants of that "parade", as well as on the police" - asserts B-92. On the 10th of October, on the day of the event Obradovic was arrested in Zeleni Venac, from where he coordinated by the phone actions of different groups, arriving from many Serbian towns for the "parade" disruption. However, Mladen himself says that he was arrested not at twelve-o'clock noon, but much earlier, at 10 a.m., when there was no sign of any unrest, thus, being preventively arrested, he physically couldn't coordinate them. Altogether on subsequent days more than 800 adult activists were arrested for 30 days. No accusation have been laid against them so far.
On the morning of October 16 the Belgrade police arrested the president of National council of "Patriotic alliance Obraz", 53-year-old Krsto Milovanovic from Belgrade, on suspicion of unrest's organization. During a police search in publishing house "Narodnoye delo", the owner of which is Milovanovic, there was found a huge amount of stickers with slogans "We are waiting for you" and posters with the same message, as well as stickers with inscription "March is forbidden".
Thus, at present all "Obraz" leadership and about 20 activists of "Nashi 1389" have been arrested - the majority of its leaders managed to avoid the arrest. Now all they partially or fully have gone underground, they don't live at home, constantly moving. The member of the "Nashi 1389" central council Ivan Ivanovic said in an interview to the organization's website: "Yes, all leaders of the movement, Misha Vacic, Igor Marinkovic and me have gone underground like communists in the 30s because of the authorities' repressions. From everywhere we receive the information that we will be arrested in any case. About 20 of our comrades are already in captivity and now they are being tortured in the police, who are compelling them to sign false testimony".
Whereas users of the most popular Serbian forum serbiancafe write: "Our children are incarcerated in terrible casemates! Under disgusting tyrant Milosevic, on March the 9th, 1991 destructions in Belgrade after the opposition's demonstrations were much heavier, however, everyone was released from custody. Absolutely everyone! Still Milosevic was a disgusting tyrant, but now we have democracy. On October the 5th, 2000 Belgrade was damaged more severely, however, in the course of those events you called our children "patriots", but today you call them "hooligans". For Belgrade's destruction on October the 5th all you - present democratic authorities - are not just unpunished, but, on the contrary, you are awarded and many have got positions in public offices, which you are still holding now".
WHY?
The next day, on October the 11th, all might of the liberal media came down on patriots. Traditionally, initiator was B-92. Tens of all possible experts, as if on command, began to elaborate on "ultra-far-right extremists", "clerofascists", "savages", who by their criminal desire not to allow holding the gay parade in Belgrade, don't let Serbia in the EU, creating in Europe unattractive image of the country. The majority of mass media called upon to almost lynch the "Rioters", sure, it's through their fault now "Holland will block Serbia's entry into the EU!"
Milosevic's propaganda machine, which have been demonized for many years by that very B-92, had never operated with that efficiency, which was demonstrated by the "free democratic media".
Did Boris Tadic know what reaction will gay parade in Belgrade cause? Absolutely, he did. Serbia is on the threshold of serious economic ordeal - inflation is rising, unemployment is increasing, but promises of impending entering the EU less and less inspire optimism. Understanding all might and influence of street politics in a country, he and his team perfectly realized what sort of threat would become all these people in case of economic collapse. That's why preventive blow was necessary, which could deprive street opposition of a leader.
The mass media already calls subsequent political operation a "Sabre" by analogy with those measures which were taken after the assassination of the Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in 2003. Did those lads, who brought out people on the streets, understand what awaited them after the 10th of October? Most likely, they did - the country is small and it was impossible to conceal BIA's (Serbian intelligence service) large-scale preparations to mass repressions and the mass media's readiness to information blow. Could they abandon any activity on October the 10th? The answer is definite - no. Confrontation between Boris Tadic's regime and street opposition has passed in the open phase. In similar situation Slobodan Milosevic faced a revolution on October the 5th, 2000.
However, in this many-moved confrontation both sides have their hidden trump cards. Even the heaviest media attack on the gay parade's opponents in Serbian archaic, traditional society may not yield so many results - people's sympathy will be on the side of the street all the same. It's obvious. That's why special operation of discredit is needed. Apparently, it was disruption of Italy-Serbia match in Genoa what became such operation. We won't go into detail on mechanisms of its implementation - they may be quite different. What is important is the result - the official mass media was given an opportunity to say to people - "Look! They are just thugs! Today they have disrupted the match of your favourite team, but yesterday they smashed up our capital. They don't have any ideology, they are just maniacs, who like violence and destruction. They are unworthy of your support". At the same time, paparazzi have noticed "1389" tattoo on Ivan Bogdanov, the principal character of the events in Genoa, and on that instant enrolled him as a member of the organization of the same name.
Misha Vacic, a press secretary to the movement "Nashi 1389" said that year of the Battle of Kosovo tattooed on the right hand of Ivan Bogdanov, accused of organization of turmoils in Genoa, has nothing to do with their organization. "Bogdanov isn't our member, but he is a friend of the organization and, as many football fans, shares our views. Tattoo "1389" on his hand isn't related to our organization, it's just Bogdanov's sign of respect for that crucial date in our history. We support that he burnt Albanian flag in Genoa, because it's something what any patriot would do. Serbs are nation of free spirit, but if Italians got used to be in a cage, we don't and this is normal that we cut wire to get out", - said Vacic.
28-year-old Ivan Bogdanov himself asserted: "In the past I was a military man and I love my country very much. I'm a nationalist, like all Serbs. I just wanted to demonstrate my stance and views".
However, these events allowed Boris Tadic and the liberal media to increase pressure on Serbian civil society, initiate passing by Skupstina a so-called "Law on hooligans", which toughen the punishment for street unrest, to make a number of high-flown statements and finally to declare thousands and tens of thousands of conscientious Serbs to be "extremists and rioters".
"RUSSIAN" TRACE
Serbian Office of Public Prosecutor will carry on an inquiry to find out who finances "Obraz" and similar organizations, - "Blic" reports, referring to the sources in the Public Prosecutor's Office - "Investigation will help to reveal those who control from behind the scenes this organization and its leader Mladen Obradovic, arrested during the unrest in Belgrade the day when the gay parade was held".
They stuck posters all around in Serbia and this costs a lot. During the unrest on Sunday they used motorcyclists, who were taking pictures of the police and used other methods, what requires money", - it was said according to the "Blic" source. "All this costs enough and the source of financing will be found out, because among the arrested there are people under age or youth without a permanent source of income", - claimed sources in the Prosecutor's Office. The "Blic" source doesn't rule out the probability that "Obraz" is supported by the similar "extremist organizations" from Russia.
The Office of Public Prosecutor points out that "Obraz" is connected with several rightist organizations abroad, so that during the financial inquiry it's necessary to find out whether they get money from an outside.
The police tried to learn from "Obraz" leader Mladen Obradovic, whom he keeps in touch with and where gets funds from, but he refused to testify, having said that he would defend himself with silence.
At once began to move Galina Vladimirovna Kozhevnikova from domestic "Sova-centre". "From Serbian "Obraz" threads might lead to "Russian Obraz". And then members of "Russian Obraz" are declared wanted by Interpol. Then "Russian Obraz" is put on a list of terrorist organizations". What a luxuriant fancy! I would also add that the members of all these extremist "Obrazes" should be sent to Guantanamo, but the leadership to the Hague tribunal. By the way, Galina Vladimirovna, but where lead threads from "Sova-Centre", let's check it?
SLAVIC SOLIDARITY
On October the 10th, 2010 "Russian Obraz" took part in an action of Slavic solidarity at Serbia's embassy in Moscow, which was directed against holding gay parade in Belgrade. In the action participated activists of the Union of Orthodox Gonfalon Holders, movement "Kosovskiy front", United Orthodox Youth and other organizations. About 100 people with gonfalons, Serbian, Russian and Imperial flags, with posters condemning holding gay parade in Belgrade, were chanting slogans in support of conservative movements of Serbia which decided to confront the march of perverts. In the capital of Belarus - Minsk, an action of Slavic solidarity against holding gay parade in Serbia took place as well.
WITH WHOM IS THE CHURCH?
In view of the clashes between the police and opponents of the gay parade's holding, which happened on October, the 10th, in the name of Serbian Patriarch Irinej, his vicar bishop Hvostanskiy Afanasiy made a statement on television, in which it was said that nobody of the incident's participants had any authority from the Serbian Patriarchate.
His Holiness calls upon everyone to do everything possible for his part to fully restore peace on the city's streets, reminding that there is no such goal which could justify the threat to human lives", - said bishop Afanasiy.
Patriarch and the church hierarchy of Serbian Patriarchate called upon all Serbian citizens to hearken to the Church's voice and not to commit an act of violence towards the gay parade's participants and the defenders of law and order. On October the 10th, in Belgrade, despite the protests of the Serbian Patriarchate and a number of other public organizations, the gay parade took place under the name "Parade of Glory! We can live together!"
Due to the holding of gay parade and happened clashes, a traditional Sunday evening church service was cancelled in the Church of St. Savva of Serbia in Vracar.
Thus, the Serbian Church officially took a stand analogous to that by the Russian Orthodox Church in the course of October conflict in 1993. Meanwhile, the sympathy of the overwhelming majority of priesthood and monkhood is on patriot's side.
PERSPECTIVES
Serbia faces a threat of one more wave of violence, in view of what state authorities more and more seriously ponder on taking temporary measures”, - reports the paper “Pravda”. By estimates of intelligence services, the first «intensity point» will become the 23rd of October – football match between “Partizan” and “Zvezda”. What does it mean “temporary measures”? In essence it’s a military situation.
In connection with the impending unrest on the stadium “Marakana”, where derby is to take place, seats are being already removed from that part of stands, which will be occupied by the fans. At the same time, both with generals of “Delije” and “Grobari” are trying to work those who are interested in avoiding unrest, as well as the representatives of patriotic organizations, who need a bright and resounding protest against repressions as much as the air they breathe. The next day after the derby - on October, the 24th, on Sunday a peaceful meeting against political repressions is to be held, organized by “Nashi 1389” and a newly created “Mothers against repressions”.
As it’s reported by the press secretary Misha Vacic – “In cooperation with other patriotic organizations and organization on human right protection we are holding a peaceful meeting, which will have a protest nature, and we will demand to release all arrested on October the 10 th. We will demand not to conceal the truth about the number of the arrested. Meeting is going to be non-violent, we are expecting more people than it was on the “Family march”, - said Vacic.
At first the meeting was sanctioned by the authorities, but on October, the 21st the police stormed into office of the organization, confiscated all agitation material and arrested 15 activists of the movement, who were released just on the other day. Authorization to hold the meeting was withdrawn. However, “Nashi 1389” leaders have a resolute mood and assert that the event will take place in any case.
In the official statement on the website of “Nashi 1389” movement it’is said:
Now “Nashi 1389” demand immediate resignation of the government and of the Serbian president, as well as to start criminal proceedings against the Minister of the Police Ivica Dacic, who allowed unrests in Belgrade. Despite the threat of unrest, he authorized holding of a so-called “gay parade”.
Also, “Nashi 1389” thanks all citizens of Serbia, who took part in protest demonstrations against the Regime and the European Union, having shown by this, that in Belgrade forcible propagation of European morals isn’t supported.
SNP “Nashi 1389” is quite saddened by the escalation of violence on the streets of Belgrade, but the responsibility for this fully lies with the Minister of the Police.
Whereas, it’s gladdens that instead of “gay parade” in Belgrade , gays were put in quarantine. SNP “Nashi 1389” considers these events as the first sign of collapse of the Tadic-Dacic’s treacherous regime. Last years in the course of street unrest in Belgrade - when Radovan Karadzic was extradited, when Kosovo declared independence, at the last-year gay parade - more and more often the call - “Ustanak!” - uprising is heard. This call refers to the first and second Serbian uprising at the beginning of the 19th century, when as a result of the protracted and bloody struggle, Serbs managed to get autonomy, and later independence from the Ottoman Empire. One can say that the new “Ustanak” has begun on 10.10.2010.
In 2009 the whole Belgrade’s centre was plastered with antifascist stickers: “If they could do it in Athens - we will be able to do it here!” Then the disorder had barely calmed down in Greece. Today we can agree with that. Belgrade must be in a blaze. But unlike Athens and recent Barcelona this will be done by the rightist activists and football fans.
However, it can be avoided. Just as an example. 10 young people from the small town Ivanjica took part in the protest in Belgrade on October the 10th. Seeing that the arrests are carried out all around Serbia, their relatives have already declared that in case of attempt to arrest the lads, they will block at once the police station.
On October, the 10th about 6000 young men went out on the streets from the whole Serbia. Everyone of them has brothers, fathers, friends. Many of them have battle experience and weapons. For all that, they don’t have jobs, dinar exchange rate is constantly falling, economic situation is worsening, but they have a pain of loss of Kosovo and continually irritating government’s rhetoric on the necessity to catch Ratko Mladic. Thus, pre-Revolutionary situation is obvious. Boris Tadic government still has a chance to resolve the existing situation. Amnesty of all arrested for political reasons and the Agreement. Meanwhile, they will have to make an agreement with “Obraz” and “Nashi 1389”. With Mladen Obradovic and Misha Vacic. For them it will be indisputably a transition to a new level. Old parties of the 90s, sitting now in Skupstina, including radicals, don’t represent the interests of the street and they realize it. In the course of hearings of the urgently introduced bill of a so-called “law on hooligans”, toughening the punishment for street disorders, the leader of Serbian Progressive Party Tomislav Nikolic said: “The authorities hurry to pass the law before the Saturday’s derby. Today Serbia lives from derby to derby”. Yes, today the street belongs to football fans and their political representatives - “Obraz” and “Nashi 1389”, and it must be taken into consideration.
Existing situation in Serbia was commented by the Candidate of History, a scientist at the Centre for Study of Contemporary Balkan Crisis at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Anna Filimonova: In Serbia “Gay-pride” isn’t a spontaneous inner phenomenon of the country and is by no means the desire of its leadership. The last, because at present Serbia represents a protectorate of a high-risk subordination, doesn’t make independent decisions neither in domestic, nor in foreign policy. “Gay-movement” - it’s a segment of the complex multilevel strategy, “blue strategy of EU”.
Its main goal is destruction, undermining of society, penetrated with patriarchal and religious norms and traditions. This is, first of all, method, and very effective one, of “breaking” of national consciousness, destruction of moral and intellectual values. It’s heavy artillery, which target is school, institutions of higher education and, finally, family. One of the most graviest sin - sodomy - is imposed as a norm, what can’t not to destroy spiritual corpse of the nation. The destruction is followed by the formation of other “civilized type” of society, based on moral chaos, splitting and as a result - total inability to confront the outside control.
Obviously, that these inner processes are necessary for geo-strategists of the Western centres of forces to accompany the realization of their geopolitical projects - Kosovo separation (strengthening of Kosovo’s institutions of statehood with integration and assimilation of Serbs), centralization of BiH, converting Vojvodina virtually into independent from Belgrade Euro region, transformation of Sandzak literary “from scratch” (Raska region) into a powerful seat of tension, support of destabilizing processes in the South of Serbia (Presevo, Bujanovac, Medvedza) etc.
Besides, the tactic goals of the gay parade are the following:
1). Revealing of opposition groups, movements and leaders. Development and improving of propagandist formula (“clerofascists”, “destructive radical-extremist elements” etc, consolidating them in social consciousness in respect to national-patriotic forces), as well as applying all sorts of indispensably extremely tough measures of suppression and repression.
2). Disguise of the domestic and foreign policy’s actions: selling of the largest, profitable and socially significant Serbian company “Telecom”, liquidation of the last signs of Serbian statehood in the North of KiM, and also further domestic reforms, destroying economy (especially, banking system) and other country’s sectors.
