Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić said on Wednesday that university blockades are orchestrated by the rector and deans themselves, accusing them of placing themselves above the country’s constitution and laws.
Responding to University of Belgrade Rector Vladan Đokić’s claim that the institution has not suspended operations but that classes cannot be held due to blockades, Brnabić argued in a post on X that such statements mislead the public.
She pointed to the fact that teaching activities are continuing at the Faculty of Economics in Belgrade—but only for students enrolled in international programs run in collaboration with the London School of Economics (LSE) and Freie Universität Berlin.
Brnabić also noted that on February 28, exams were held in lecture hall A3 at the so-called “blocked” faculty.
“As the Speaker of the National Assembly, which oversees the implementation of laws, I have a question for the rector and the dean: How can professors enter the faculty and hold classes and exams for some students, but not for all? What kind of partial blockade is this—one hallway is blocked, but another is not? Or have you simply placed yourselves above the Constitution and the laws of Serbia? These blockades are a farce. You are the ones blocking the university,” Brnabić wrote.
On March 25, Đokić stated that the University of Belgrade had not acted unlawfully and had not suspended work, but that faculties and professors were unable to conduct classes due to ongoing blockades.
