Opposition demands resignation of Belgrade mayor after attack on councillor: Šapić “unworthy of the office”

Serbia’s opposition has demanded the resignation of Belgrade mayor Aleksandar Šapić, a day after the incident in which he was accused of physically assaulting Kreni-promeni councillor Tanja Micić, breaking her nose. As Nova.rs reports, the opposition considers Šapić “unworthy of the office of Belgrade mayor” after the event that shocked public opinion on Sunday evening.

Harsh reactions have also come from the blockading students, who declared, according to Nova.rs, that “protecting women is not a campaign slogan,” condemning the violence against the councillor. Women’s organizations have also condemned the incident, while citizens on social media have demanded legal accountability, the B92 portal writes.

Stefan Simić, a councillor of the Free Citizens’ Movement, reacted harshly, urging the authorities to treat the mayor like any other citizen accused of violence — with a proper legal investigation and, if warranted, detention. According to B92, he also demanded that Šapić be immediately tested for alcohol and psychoactive substances, stressing that violence must be condemned regardless of political affiliation.

The incident happened on the evening of September 28 in Bežanijska kosa, New Belgrade, where Micić was walking with her husband and their dog. According to Kreni-promeni, Šapić approached her, accused her of bringing people to his home and, after a verbal argument, hit her in the nose. Police took the mayor to the New Belgrade station but released him shortly after — which prompted Kreni-promeni protests in front of the police station. Šapić himself denied the hit, saying “I didn’t hit her, I pushed her to defend myself.”

Meanwhile, Kreni-promeni leader Savo Manojlović has called on the prosecution to open criminal proceedings against Šapić and order his detention, while urging citizens to gather in front of the New Belgrade Prosecutor’s Office as pressure for legal accountability.