Riot police clash with right-wing protesters at Pride march in Serbia

Riot police clashed with right-wing protestors at a Pride march in Serbia.

Officers were injured as they tried to break up two groups that were disrupting the march to mark the end of EuroPride week in Belgrade.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said 10 cops were ‘slightly’ injured, five police cars were damaged and 64 protestors had been arrested.

Brnabi – who is Serbia’s first gay Prime Minister – said ‘I am very proud that we managed to avoid more serious incidents.’

Following protests by nationalists and religious groups, the government had banned the march last week.

But faced with calls by European Union officials and human rights activists, it allowed a shortened route for the march.

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Anti-LGTBQ protesters shout slogans in front of St. Marco church during the European LGBTQ pride march in Belgrade (Picture: AP)

An anti-LGBT protester confronts Pride participants ahead of the EuroPride march (Picture: EPA)

Protesters held icons and crosses during the European LGBTQ pride march in Belgrade (Picture: Reuters)

The Serbian prime minister gave the pan-European LGBTQ event the go-ahead weeks after the Serbian president said it was cancelled due to security concerns. (Picture: Getty)

Throughout the mixed messages from officials, organizers have been adamant that they would proceed with the parade. (Picture: Getty)

Those participating walked several hundred metres to the Tsmajdan stadium where a concert took place.

The United States’ ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, and the European parliament’s special rapporteur for Serbia, Vladimir Bilcik, joined the march.

Previous Serbian governments have banned Pride parades, drawing criticism from human rights groups and others.

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Some Pride marches in the early 2000s met with fierce opposition and were marred by violence.

But recent Pride marches in Serbia have passed off peacefully, a change cited by EuroPride organisers as one reason Belgrade was chosen as this year’s host. Copenhagen was the host in 2021.

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