Serbia Says Gay Pride March May go Ahead

Serbia's Office for the Coordination of Security Services on Friday said the Belgrade Gay Pride march, scheduled for September 28, may proceed as planned.

However, Nebojsa Stefanovic, the Interior Minister, stated that the match could still be called off if the security situation changes in the meantime.

"The Office reserves the right to do so if, in the coming days, the authorities estimate that the safety of the citizens would be endangered," Stefanovic said on Friday.

He also urged people opposed to the march to refrain from violence.

"Do not destroy our country or our city, and do not attack those in charge of security, because they are here to ensure the right of everyone to live freely," Stefanovic said.

Some far-right and religious organisations have already announced that they will hold protests against the march.

The nationalist movement Dver has scheduled a protest for September 27 in defence of "family values." Another group, Istinoljublje, led by a former Orthodox Church cleric, Dragan Davidovic, has scheduled a protest for the same day.

In 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, the authorities banned the parade altogether just days before it was scheduled to take place, after police declared they could not safeguard marchers from right-wing violence.

Serbia's first Pride march was brought to a halt in Belgrade in June 2001, when protesters clashed with police.

The march went ahead only in 2010, but several thousand young people, including football fans and members of right-wing organisations, caused mayhem on the streets of the capital, throwing stones and missiles, injuring police and setting buildings and vehicles on fire.