MOSCOW, May 29. Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic commented on his action in support of the Kosovo Serbs during Roland Garros, noting that he would do it again, despite possible sanctions.
Djokovic outplayed US representative Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of Roland Garros on Monday and after the match wrote on a video camera where players traditionally leave autographs, «Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.»
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“I don’t know what will happen, whether they will punish me, I know that foreign journalists have already written about this. I have no doubt I would do it again. I am against any wars and conflicts, I have always stated this publicly. The situation with Kosovo is a precedent under the UN charter and all norms, I am very sorry that we are in it. Kosovo is our hearth, our stronghold, the greatest battle took place there, the most important monasteries are located there,» telegraf.rs reports Djokovic's words from a press conference.
Grand Slam TournamentsRoland Garros ATP31 May 2023 • start at 12:00Match has not startedNovak DjokovicSerbia– : –Marton FucovicHungary
“I am not a politician and I am not going to get involved in debates. As a Serb, I am very hurt by what is happening in Kosovo, because of our people who are being kicked out of the municipalities. This is the least I could do, I feel responsible as a public activist and son of a man born in Kosovo, I feel the need to give support to all of Serbia. I don't know what the future holds for the Serbian people and Kosovo, but I really needed to give support,» he added.
Thousands of Kosovo Serbs gathered in front of local government buildings in the north of the province of Kosovo and Metohija on Monday demanding the withdrawal of the Kosovo police and the recall of the Kosovo Albanian mayors. KFOR forces with means to disperse demonstrations were distributed near the municipal buildings of Zvecan, Leposavić and Zubin Potok. Behind them were large Kosovo police forces that prevented the Serbs from approaching the buildings.
In the evening, clashes began between protesters and security forces. Tear gas and stun grenades were used, and shots were heard. More than 50 people applied for medical help to the hospital of North Kosovska-Mitrovica, among them seriously injured. Local media reported that there were victims among the security forces.