Writer Vladimir Arsenijević beaten in Belgrade, ahead of commemoration organized by NGO

Writer Vladimir Arsenijević announced that he was beaten this morning in Belgrade, ahead of the announced commemoration for the victims of the Srebrenica genocide.

He posted a video on Instagram recorded under Branko's Bridge, where a commemoration organized by Serbian civil society was supposed to be held today.

"This morning when I came here, I was found by a group of 20-30 people who were hitting me, threatening me with their already familiar vocabulary, and scribbling their messages all over this space," said Arsenijević, whose face showed bruises from the beatings.

"Since it is unsafe to hold the commemoration, we are canceling it, which does not mean that we will not continue to do everything we normally do," said Arsenijevic.

The area under the bridge was scrawled with chauvinistic messages this morning, Nova.rs reports.

At the site of last year's artistic and activist intervention in the space, under Belgrade's Branko Bridge, the Flower of Srebrenica appeared early this morning.

"For every victim, for every family of victims, for a culture of remembrance, for reconciliation and for peace. Today and every day: People remember people. Good morning, better Belgrade," said the "People Remember People" coalition, whose representatives laid a large bouquet in the shape of a Srebrenica flower under the bridge.

Today is the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Srebrenica Genocide.

Underneath the white and green ikebana of flowers, one meter in diameter, is the inscription on paper "Srebrenica 8.372 - People Remember People".

The "People Remember People" coalition consists of non-governmental organizations, foundations, and artists gathered around the common goal of preserving the memory of the victims of the Srebrenica genocide.

They added that in this way they also called on the institutions of the Republic of Serbia to include July 11th in the official calendar of dates to be commemorated and thus contribute to building lasting peace by cultivating a culture of remembrance based on facts.