OSCE PA Vice-President and Special Representative on South East Europe Kyriakos HadjiyianniCOPENHAGEN, 4 March 2025 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice-President and Special Representative on South East Europe Kyriakos Hadjiyianni (Cyprus) has strongly condemned the violent incidents that occurred during today’s parliamentary session in the Republic of Serbia. In a statement today, he urged all parliamentarians to uphold a high standard of conduct and to reject violence as a means of political expression.
“It is unacceptable to witness violence anywhere, but especially within the parliament during official proceedings,” Vice-President Hadjiyianni stated. “Members of Parliament are elected to represent their citizens and advocate for their interests through democratic means. This responsibility must be exercised without resorting to violence.”
Hadjiyianni noted the context in which the incident took place, pointing out that he has been following the student protests in Serbia since December 2024, and acknowledged that there are widespread public concerns. He stressed, however, that parliament must remain a place to debate and discuss such concerns in a thoughtful manner. There is no justification for the violent scenes that unfolded in the Serbian Parliament, he emphasized, noting that they have caused great alarm among the wider public.
“Seeing parliamentarians injured and tear gas deployed inside the parliament is entirely unacceptable for an OSCE participating State and a candidate country for the European Union,” the Special Representative said.
He further noted that parliamentarians must work together for the benefit of citizens and have a duty to engage in dialogue and uphold the rule of law. “We pass legislation that prohibits all forms of violence, yet today we have seen lawmakers themselves resorting to it,” Hadjiyianni said. “We must reaffirm our commitment to democratic principles, ensuring that our institutions remain places of constructive debate, inclusion, and respect, where representatives from diverse backgrounds, including women and individuals with special needs, can work safely and without fear.”
Special Representative Hadjiyianni concluded by extending best wishes for the swift recovery of the injured colleagues in the Serbian Parliament and expressing hope that today’s events will not be repeated in Serbia or in any other parliament. “History has proven that dialogue and debate are always more effective than violence,” he said.
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