Serbia's Orthodox Christians March Against EuroPride Event

Thousands of Orthodox Christians carrying crosses, religious icons, and banners chanted and prayed as they gathered outside the Church of St. Sava in Belgrade on August 28 to protest a gay pride event.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic declared on August 27 that the planned EuroPride celebrations would be "postponed or canceled." Nevertheless, organizers have vowed to hold the events, scheduled for September 12-18.

A Russian flag is held aloft during the protest.

Vucic said the government had come under intense pressure from right-wing groups and representatives of the Serbian Orthodox Church to cancel the event. He allowed for the possibility that the event could be held at a later date.

Serbian Orthodox Bishop Nikanor hailed the authorities' decision to reverse "the desecration of our country, our church, and our family." Nearly 85 percent of Serbians identify as Orthodox Christians.

Pride marches in Belgrade were marred by violence in 2001 and 2010. In other years, they have passed off peacefully, though with a strong police presence.

The UN office in Serbia said it was concerned about the announced ban, saying it would jeopardize “the right to freedom of assembly as guaranteed by the Serbian Constitution.”

Members of the European Pride Organizers Association chose Serbia’s capital three years ago to host the annual event, hoping it would represent a major breakthrough for a Slavic country that is traditionally conservative and under the strong influence of the Orthodox Church.

Belgrade's bid to host the event was supported by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is the first woman and first openly gay person to hold that position in Serbia.

Brnabic has been accused by Serbia’s gay rights groups of not doing enough to help their status in the country. She joined Vucic in supporting the canceling of the EuroPride event.

Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership, while also seeking to maintains close ties to Russia, which has enacted repressive anti-LGBT legislation in recent years.

The opposition Civic Democratic Forum accused the Serbian president of “playing dictator” by modeling himself on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During the August 28 march, pictures of Putin and Dragoljub "Draza" Mihailovica, a controversial Serb nationalist leader during World War II, were carried aloft.

In 2013, Russia introduced a law banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" among minors, punishable with fines and imprisonment.

Police secure an LGBT info center during the protest march in Belgrade on August 28.

Since 1992, a different European city has hosted the EuroPride event.