Tanks roll into Serbian capital in preparation for upcoming military parade

[Starmix]

According to the report, tanks are rolling through the Serbian capital, Belgrade, in preparation for a military parade that is set for September 20.Dubbed 'The power of unity,' the parade is designed to showcase Serbia’s military capabilities on the occasion of a recently established national holiday. According to Associated Press, the show will take place amid deep political divisions and the biggest wave of anti-government protests in years in the Balkan country. President Aleksandar Vucic said the parade has nothing to do with the persistent demonstrations that have shaken his tight grip on power.

The report also said that Vucic has repeatedly branded the student protesters as “terrorists” who are working in conjunction with Western powers to remove him from office, without presenting any evidence. On Friday, Vucic said that the parade was announced earlier this year and was not in any way related to daily events.“This parade is an expression of our desire to celebrate a national holiday and an expression of our desire to show how much our army has progressed," said Vucic. Aleksandar Radic, a military analyst, believes Vucic’s government will use the parade as a show of force and to help boost public support. Vucic's "intention actually is to show the army as a symbol of what binds people together in Serbia at the moment when there is a crisis of unity in Serbia," said Radic. The protests first started as an anti-corruption movement after a concrete canopy at a renovated train station in Serbia’s north collapsed in November, killing 16 people and sparking allegations of graft-fueled negligence in construction.