At least 3 Serbian lawmakers injured as smoke bombs, flares thrown in parliament

At least three Serbian lawmakers were injured, one seriously, following chaotic scenes in the country’s parliament on March 4, where smoke bombs and flares were thrown during a contentious session.

The incident occurred as lawmakers were scheduled to vote on a law to increase funding for university education, but opposition parties demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and his government be confirmed first, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The disturbance began about an hour into the session, as opposition lawmakers blew whistles and displayed a banner reading, “Serbia has risen so the regime would fall!” Tensions quickly escalated, leading to clashes between lawmakers, followed by the throwing of smoke bombs, flares, eggs, and water bottles inside the assembly hall. Serbian media reported that three individuals were injured in the altercation, one of whom was seriously hurt.

Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic condemned the opposition’s actions, labeling them a “terrorist gang.” She confirmed that one of the injured lawmakers was in serious condition. The violence unfolded amid ongoing political turmoil in Serbia, where months-long anti-corruption protests have rocked the populist government.

The crisis intensified following the November collapse of a concrete canopy in northern Serbia that killed 15 people, an incident widely blamed on corruption. Vucevic resigned in January, but parliament still needs to confirm his resignation for it to take effect. Opposition parties have insisted that the government, in its current state, has no authority to pass new laws.

In the midst of the unrest, Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic reported that one of the injured lawmakers, MP Jasmina Obradović, who was affected by an electroshock bomb, suffered a stroke. MPs Jasmina Karanac and Sonja Ilić, who is eight months pregnant, were also injured during the violent outburst.

By Vafa Guliyeva