Friday, March 29

Novak Djokovic ‘lured to Australia to be humiliated’, says Serbia | Serbia


Serbian politicians and celebrities have described Novak Djokovic’s treatment as a shameful scapegoat, as the Belgrade Foreign Ministry suggested that the world’s number one tennis had been “lured to Australia … to be humiliated”.

The 34-year-old champion, born in the Serbian capital, is being held at an immigration hotel in Melbourne pending a legal challenge to Australia’s decision on Wednesday to cancel a visa allowing him to play in the Australian Open.

In an opinion piece for the Iskra news portal, reprinted By the pro-government tabloid Informer, acclaimed Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica argued that Djokovic’s arrest was “not just a lesson for the noble Serb,” ​​but for everyone.

Kusturica said that the “arrest of Novak Djokovic, first among the free, a rebel who does not want the chains of the new world and believes in a more just order” recalled the plot of a film in which prominent citizens were arrested as a lesson for the rest.

Novak Djokovic supporters protest in front of the Serbian parliament in Belgrade
Novak Djokovic supporters protest outside the Serbian parliament in Belgrade on Friday. Photograph: Darko Vojinovic / AP

Australian authorities have said that the player, who declined to reveal his Covid vaccination status but previously said he opposed vaccination, was denied entry because he did not meet the exemption requirements. They have also said that the player is free to leave the country whenever he wants.

“Hasn’t the world already become a prison whose most expressive symbol is barbed wire?” Kusturica asked. “Are not the punishments for those who refuse to be beaten by the world government one step further?”

Serbian Parliament Speaker Ivica Dačić, a former prime minister whose Serbian Socialist Party is a partner in the country’s coalition government, said Djokovic was enduring “despicable political harassment.”

Also Read  The United States prohibits the shipment of semiconductors and software to Russia

Any country in the world “would gladly give citizenship to Mr. Djokovic, much less let him visit for a tournament”, Dacic Dacic said, describing Australia’s behavior as “shameful” and the result of “political instability in that country as the elections approach.”

The player’s family, who on Thursday compared him to Jesus and accused Australian authorities of “trying to crucify him”, called for a mass protest against his continued detention on Friday, when Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas.

“The family of Novak Djokovic calls all the fans and supporters of the best tennis player in the world, who is in a delicate situation, in front of the assembly of the city of Belgrade,” the family said in a joint statement.

“The most important Christian holiday is an opportunity to show the importance of the community, send support from Belgrade and show how much support the best tennis player in the world has in his own country.”

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Serbian public “has the strong impression that Djokovic is the victim of a political game against his will, and that he was lured to travel to Australia to be humiliated.”

He added: “Novak Djokovic is not a criminal, terrorist or illegal migrant, but he was treated that way by the Australian authorities, which is causing understandable outrage from his fans and citizens of Serbia.”

The Serbian government sent a formal protest note to its embassy in Canberra for transmission to the Australian government, and Foreign Minister Nemanja Starović delivered a verbal protest to Australia’s ambassador to Serbia, Daniel Emery.

Also Read  Francisco begins to build a fort in Martínez Valero

The Foreign Ministry said Serbia did not want to influence the next court decision, but hoped that “the country’s authorities, in the spirit of good bilateral relations, will allow Djokovic to spend (time) in better conditions.”

Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, posted a photo of the couple hugging on a beach to mark Orthodox Christmas, saying: “The only law that we must all respect across borders is love and respect for another human being.”

Milivoje Pantovic is a producer for N1 Television in Belgrade.


www.theguardian.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *