After an FTN student was arrested for an alleged attack on DIF dean Patrick Dryd, students in Novi Sad say that he did not participate in the incident and that the excessive force came solely from the police
Students in the blockade of the University of Novi Sad announced that the police "illegal and unfounded" arrested a student of the Faculty of Technical Sciences on Monday evening due to an alleged attack on the dean of the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education (DIF) Patrick Dryden and requested that he be released immediately.
"During the gathering in front of the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, there was a scuffle between the police, citizens and students. On that occasion, the police used excessive force against the crowd without justifiable reason, which we strongly condemn," the students announced on Instagram.
Student Veljko Petrović spent the night in jail for falsely accusing him of punching Dean Patrick Dryd.
The video we have clearly shows that the student Veljko Petrović did not hit the dean in any way and that his back was turned to him the whole time.
Today we are waiting for a decision on Veljkov... pic.twitter.com/z94AA6RVBq
— Kreni-Promeni (@KPromeni) April 29, 2025
The students emphasized that they categorically deny that their colleague physically hurt the dean.
"The colleague did not commit any violence, nor did any of the gathered students resort to physical confrontations, but the excessive use of force came from the police," the students said.
They also believe that the arrest of their colleague is "unfounded, illegal and aimed at intimidating students" and stifling the right to free assembly and expression of opinion, and they demand his immediate release and the sanctioning of all those responsible for the use of excessive force against citizens and students.
The Kreni-Promeni movement announced that Veljko Petrović, a student who was identified by some tabloids as the attacker of DIF dean Patrik Drid, was arrested in Novi Sad. However, the available videos show that Petrović did not have physical contact with the dean, nor was he among the people who poured water on him, Kreni-Promeni leader Savo Manojlović said in a statement.
"This arrest is a reflection of the frustration of Aleksandar Vučić due to his failure to break through the student blockade at the DIF," Manojlovic said.
I
In the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Investigation of Accidents in Air, Rail and Water Transport, the public comments the most on two new laws on the protection of information and evidence
The Prosecutor's Office and the BIA are working to identify the author of the post calling for bloodshed and civil war. The message mentions the liquidation of members of ruling parties, security services and "neutral"
Although rebellious students and citizens have been asking for early elections for months, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, for the first time in 13 years, does not want to call them. At the same time, the formal president of SNS, Miloš Vučević, says that the party is "always ready" for elections
Belgraders blocked the Gazelle in both directions, there was an attempt to break through the blockade in Užice, cyclists from Šabac came to Jadar to protest against Rio Tinto, there were rallies in Užice, Kragujevac, Niš...
In Belgrade, Niš, Kragujevac and Novi Sad, in that order, student and citizen protests are starting today. There is a protest against Rio Tinto in Jadar, and cyclists from Šabac joined them, citizens of Užice for the removal of the mayor
Metropolitan Justin of Žica openly sided with the students and warned the government that "power was not given for the sake of violence, but for the sake of service". What was the need for an archbishop known for avoiding conflict
Just as Šešelj pulled a gun on the students at the beginning of the nineties, so Vučić pulls his beaters on their rebellious daughters and sons today. It's the same policy, just adapted to the times
The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, acquits thugs and madmen who beat and trample students, while arresting those same students. A people in rebellion is no longer guaranteed a bare life - but the guild will pay for this regime in the end
Exclusive: Research by Slobodan G. Marković and Miloš Bešić on the attitudes of Belgrade students in the plenum
What we didn't know about them subscribeThe archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
See all
