BELGRADE -- Members of Obraz broke up the opening of an exhibition of works by Priština artists in Belgrade last night.
Obraz members outside the gallery (FoNet)
Some 300 members of the Obraz nationalist movement gathered outside the Kontekst gallery in Kapetan Miša Street, where the exhibition entitled “Retreat” was scheduled to open.
Some were carrying pictures of former JSO commander Milorad Ulemek, convicted of the murder of the late prime minister, Zoran Đinđić.
At around 1830, just prior to the official opening, two men entered the gallery, and tore down a poster with a picture of the commander of the disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army, Adem Jashari.
A large contingent of riot police soon arrived at the scene. Gallery Custodian Vida Knežević told B92 that they were now considering other ways of opening the exhibition.
“Sadly, the opening was interrupted following the arrival of, presumably, members of Obraz. The police suggested that we call things off after all, to avoid any further trouble, We’re now thinking of how else we could open the exhibition. I hope we’ll be able to do so, at least by invitation, so that people can see the exhibition,” explained Knežević.
The exhibition was organized by the Youth Initiative for Human Rights. The exhibition had been held in Novi Sad, prior to coming to Belgrade
