Statement: EuroPride Goes Ahead in Belgrade Despite Calculated Obstruction

All at ILGA-Europe send our support and solidarity to the organisers of EuroPride and Belgrade Pride, the LGBTI community in Serbia and the Balkans, who have demonstrated such courage and resilience today.

According to Evelyne Paradis, who will be in attendance at the march in Belgrade at 5pm, “The fact that a gathering is taking place after all of this should not be mistaken as the Serbian government upholding its obligations on the right to freedom of assembly.

“They have done everything in their power until the very last minute to obstruct, to discourage, and to intimidate the organisers.

“Beyond the Pride march itself, the risks of increased vulnerability to violence and hatred are very real for citizens in Belgrade and beyond, following repeated anti-LGBTI statements by political and religious leaders in Serbia.

“The unfolding of events since President Vucic announced he would ban EuroPride is a clear case of instrumentalising LGBTI people for political purposes; using LGBTIs as pawns in larger political games, as far-right, anti-democratic forces gain ground with support of external influence.

 “I am proud to march with every participant in Belgrade, as we exercise our right to be in this public space, and our inalienable human right to freedom of assembly.”