Stanić: I was ashamed when Marunović was detained, this government fell when the canopy fell

Serbian actor Tihomir Stanić said he was ashamed when Montenegrin director Danilo Marunović was detained and then expelled from Serbia, reports N1.

He said that the later the authorities call the elections, the fewer votes they will receive, and that the appointment of Dragoslav Bokan as director of the Board of Directors (BO) of the National Theater in Belgrade is "a shambles of the authorities," who seem to be sinking into quicksand.

"It so happened that I am a great friend of Slobodan Marunović, the father of the detained director Danilo Marunović. We had an agreement days in advance to meet today. Tonight I am going to see the play 'Grospoda Glembajevi'. His father, a retired actor, is proud of the fact that the play directed by his son is being performed in Belgrade. He called me today and said that Danilo was detained. I spent the day with Slobodan Marunović. I was with him when, accompanied by a BIA inspector or whoever, Danilo Marunović came to the hotel to collect his belongings. Tonight's play at the National Theater in Belgrade was scheduled six months ago. It has absolutely nothing to do with tomorrow's protest," Stanić told N1.

Vijesti reported earlier today that Montenegrin director Danilo Marunović was released today from the Serbian Security Information Agency (BIA) after questioning, and that he had to leave Serbia immediately.

Another source told Vijesti earlier today that BIA agents will escort Marunović to the border with Montenegro.

Marunović was taken into custody this morning at around nine o'clock for an informational interview at the BIA premises in Belgrade.

Vijesti learned from sources close to theater circles that BIA agents entered Marunović's hotel room, where he was staying for tonight's guest performance of the play "Gospoda Glembajevi", produced by the Montenegrin National Theater (CNP), at the National Theater in Belgrade.

Stanić added that Marunović's detention is probably related to "his other activity", which is writing columns on the "Analitika" portal.

"He is a columnist for the 'Analitika' portal, so the assumption is that he was detained for that reason," Stanić said.

He emphasized that he was ashamed when Danilo Marunović was detained.

"I am a citizen of Serbia. Such things happen in this country. I personally felt ashamed of what people in power are doing," Stanić said.

"They have big eyes in fear"

He assessed that the authorities were doing this out of fear.

"They have big eyes in fear, and those big eyes in fear declare children terrorists, arrest them. They are so scared, so preoccupied with holding on to the positions they have, even though they themselves know they are gone. They have fallen. This government fell on November 1, 2024, when the canopy collapsed (the canopy collapse in Novi Sad, when 16 people died). That day, the government fell, when the president came out and lied that only the canopy had not been reconstructed," Stanić said.

He said that the authorities are not calling elections because "they know, feel and see that they will lose in those elections."

"The authorities know that they no longer have any support and no legitimacy," Stanić said.

"Tonight's performance will be about expulsion"

He said that tonight's play by Danilo Marunović "The Glembays" at the National Theatre will be "in the spirit of that arrest."

"So, in the sign of that expulsion. The authorities will not expel his work. He will receive a standing ovation as an artist and director tonight," Stanić said, adding that the authorities "are creating enemies with every gesture, every moment."

He said that the appointment of Dragoslav Bokan as president of the National Theatre's Board of Directors was a "mindless move by the authorities."

"It's clear they don't know what they're doing. It's obviously a sham, a defiance, a demonstration of authority. They no longer have any authority among the people. Especially among artists," Stanić emphasized.

He recalled that the head of the National Theater was Svetislav Goncic, who provided support to Aleksandar Vučić.

"Obviously, he is a man who suited the regime, but he was an excellent manager. I am on the opposite political side, but the fact is that he ran that house excellently," Stanić said.

He added that the authorities "certainly had someone from their ranks who was more suitable" for the position of president of the National Theatre's Board of Directors.

"This is clearly a struggle. Like in the movies when people sink into quicksand, and they struggle and then sink faster and faster. They are only accelerating their inevitable departure," said Stanić.

"What does Bokan have to do with theater?"

He asked what connection Dragoslav Bokan had with theater.

"He legitimized himself as a militant and aggressive man. He is a man who belongs to what they call 'television', a group of broadcasters who together broadcast that special show," Stanić said.

He stated that those who are part of these broadcasters "show their primitivism, their fascist nature every day."

"They are creating panic and convincing people not to go out on Vidovdan," said Stanić.

He assessed that the authorities will probably try to provoke an incident during tomorrow's protest.

"And many people will come. Regardless, the government has taken a path of no return. The later they call the elections, the fewer percentages they will get," said Stanić.

He said he was certain that Dragoslav Bokan would not remain as president of the National Theatre's Board of Directors.

"I don't think people will let him in there. I heard that the technical people said they would block the entrance. He won't be able to get in, maybe they will escort him, escort him to the building for an hour or two, accompanied by police or private security. It's impossible. They went too far, they exceeded every measure," Stanić told N1.