{"id":20340,"date":"2025-06-16T13:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-06-16T12:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.masina.rs\/eng\/?p=20340"},"modified":"2025-06-16T13:26:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T12:26:49","slug":"two-gatherings-in-belgrade-on-vidovdan-a-choice-between-empires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.masina.rs\/eng\/two-gatherings-in-belgrade-on-vidovdan-a-choice-between-empires\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Gatherings in Belgrade on Vidovdan: A Choice Between Empires"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Vidovdan is a significant date in Serbian national and religious tradition. It commemorates the Battle of Kosovo in 1389 between the Ottoman Empire and a coalition of Balkan forces led by Serbian Prince Lazar. While rooted in historical events, it is at times coopted to promote nationalistic politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The students in blockade announced their protest on social media, writing \u201cThe city is crowded these days? It will only become more so. Everyone is invited to Belgrade on June 28. See you on Vidovdan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although there is still little official information about the protest, the celebration of Vidovdan has shaken the authorities and their supporters. Symbolically, they are being reminded of the famous question from the poem \u201cThe Fall of the Serbian Empire\u201d: \u201cTsar Lazar, noble lineage, to which empire will you pledge yourself? Do you favor the heavenly empire? Or do you favor the earthly empire?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 and Ana Brnabi\u0107; Photo: Presidency of Serbia \/ Dimitrije Goll<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The government is organizing a gathering \u2013 and a book promotion?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue, Demo Beri\u0161a, told the state-affiliated outlet Tanjug that on June 28 an event will be held where the \u201cMovement for the People and the State\u201d will be presented. Their gathering will not be anywhere near Slavija Square, where the protesting students plan to gather.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beri\u0161a also said that the state will not allow any clashes between participants of the two gatherings on June 28, emphasizing that they are skilled enough to avoid such an occurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Tanjug, on June 28 the \u201cMovement for the People and the State\u201d will be promoted, and 9,385 citizens who have joined the movement so far voted for this name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serbian President Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 has boasted that by June 28 he will have written a global bestseller titled \u201cHow I Defeated the Color Revolution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0nknFvXSYpo<\/a>