Serbia: LGBTQ Pride parade planned in Belgrade Sept. 18

Event

Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) community plan to hold a pride parade in Belgrade Sept. 18. Participants will gather at Manjez Park from 16:30 before marching through the city center past the Government of Serbia building and the Assembly of Serbia building back to Manjez park for a final rally. Counterprotests by anti-LGBTQ groups are possible along the march route and could attempt to disrupt the parade.

Authorities will deploy increased resources to monitor and facilitate the march and keep rival groups of activists apart. The parade and related security measures will likely cause localized transport disruptions along the march route; police may close roads or cordon off areas near gathering points or along the march route. Local security forces will likely be able to prevent any major incidents, though low-level scuffles between police, pride participants, and opposing activists cannot be ruled out.

Advice

Avoid all protests as a routine security precaution and to mitigate associated disruptions. Allow additional time for travel in central Belgrade the afternoon of Sept. 18. Exercise caution in the vicinity of the march route and leave the area at the first sign of a confrontation.