Controversy in Novi Sad as Mladić Flag Appears at Vučić Election Rally

Aleksandar Vučić held a pre-election rally in Novi Sad ahead of early parliamentary elections in Serbia. During the gathering on Liberty Square, some supporters waved a flag showing the face of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia sentenced Mladić to life in prison for the Srebrenica genocide and other war crimes committed during the Bosnian War.

Vučić addressed the crowd about the fatal canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people. He said that everyone responsible for the accident must face justice without mercy. He also criticized his political opponents, accusing them of exploiting the tragedy to gain power and divide society. The collapse had triggered large protests across Serbia, and prosecutors later charged 13 people with public safety offenses.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attended the rally and spoke to the audience in Serbian. Fico praised Vučić, stated that Slovakia respects Serbia's territorial integrity regarding Kosovo, and commended the treatment of the Slovak minority in Vojvodina. Other prominent officials at the rally included Milorad Dodik, Miloš Vučević, and Ana Brnabić.