Police Block Belgrade Waterfront Protest

Supporters of the Let's Not Drown Belgrade campaign that opposes a government-backed plan to develop the city's riverfront say police officers denied them access to the site during Sunday's official foundation stone laying ceremony.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic laid the foundation stone for the Belgrade Waterfront development project on the south bank of the Sava River, near the Geozavod building where the project is headquartered.

Around 1,000 people turned out to protest against the development but were denied access to the site. Police blocked protesters trying to reach the Geozavod from the city centre.

Supporters of the government plan were able to reach the site via the Zelenicki Bridge, which connects Novi Belgrade with the Old Town. Officers set up a check-in point on the bridge where people wishing to cross had to present ID.

Around 100 people, most wearing Progressive party insignia, were allowed across. Ten others claim they were prevented from crossing because they were not members of the ruling Progressive party.

"This is clearly a police state. I can't believe that they are not even hiding what are they doing", said 22-year-old student, Milos Jankovic.

One police officer confirmed only Progressive party members could cross the bridge when asked by reporters from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN).

The Serbian government signed a contract with the United Arab Emirate firm Eagle Hills to build the Belgrade Waterfront, a complex of buildings including hotels, luxury apartments, and shopping malls, on April 26, 2015.

Critics say the deal was agreed without a tender process and amounts to giving away part of Belgrade's Old Town to a group of foreign investors.

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