# SNS call centre at the Novi Sad Fair: police slow to arrive Category: Elections, media and institutions Period: from 2 Jun 2024 Outcome: No one investigated (as of 4 Jun 2024) On the day of the local elections, 2 June 2024, opposition activists and citizens reported to the police that a call centre run by the SNS was operating in a hall at the Novi Sad Fair. The party confirmed it had rented the space. The police reportedly arrived only after about an hour, and officers in the first vehicles from the Novi Sad Police Department did not get out, saying the local patrol was responsible. The hall is in the same building where votes were to be counted after polling closed. The Interior Ministry said it responds to every report filed. ## What was reported Opposition activists and citizens called the police after seeing, through the glass doors of a hall at the Novi Sad Fair, hundreds of mostly young people making phone calls. The hall is in the same building where votes were to be counted after polling closed. During the day, the police drew up an official note recording citizens' reports that a large call centre was probably operating there. ## How the police responded The police reportedly arrived only about an hour after the first call. Officers in the first vehicles from the Novi Sad Police Department did not get out, saying the local patrol was responsible. They formed a cordon only when activists tried to enter the hall, and in the meantime people inside the hall left through another exit carrying boxes. ## What the party and institutions said The SNS said it had rented part of the Fair for a call centre and had shut it down after the opposition arrived. Ana Brnabić wrote that the party has a call centre and that she sees no problem with it. The Interior Ministry said it responds to every report filed, and the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad said it would act urgently with the police against violence and look into the election-related complaints filed. ## Participants - [Novi Sad Police Department](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/pu-novi-sad): Reportedly responded to calls from the Fair only after about an hour, and officers in the first vehicles did not get out, saying the local patrol was responsible (responsible) - [Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/mup-srbije): Said it responds to every report filed and that the only serious incidents were an attack on the police and damage to Fair property (commented on the case) - [Serbian Progressive Party](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/sns): Said it had rented part of the Fair for a call centre, shut it down after the opposition arrived and called on prosecutors to act (commented on the case) - [Ana Brnabić](https://odgovornost.rs/en/osobe/ana-brnabic): Wrote that the party has a call centre, that on election day members call other members and supporters, and that she sees no problem with it (commented on the case) - [Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Novi Sad](https://odgovornost.rs/en/organizacije/vjt-novi-sad): Announced it would act urgently with the police against violence and breaches of public order and look into the election-related criminal complaints filed (investigation and courts) ## Sources - [Danas: (VIDEO) Novi Sad Fair full of people, another SNS call centre suspected](): 2 Jun 2024 - [Danas: Danas learns: Novi Sad police ordered not to go to the Novi Sad Fair](): 4 Jun 2024 - [Nova.rs: Tensions in Novi Sad: SNS activists lock themselves inside the Novi Sad Fair, opposition tries to get in, police arrive](): 2 Jun 2024 - [Radio Slobodna Evropa: Two months ago they were student activists, three days ago activists in the Progressives' call centre](): 5 Jun 2024 - [Danas: “Vandals and criminals cut the power”: SNS speaks out about the call centre in Novi Sad](): 2 Jun 2024 - [021.rs: VIDEO: Call centre at the Novi Sad Fair, young people leave the hall after police arrive](): 2 Jun 2024 - [021.rs: LIVE Novi Sad elections: SNS has a majority according to first projections, opposition at the Fair](): 2 Jun 2024 --- Source: Odgovornost, https://odgovornost.rs/en/afere/novosadski-sajam-kol-centar-policija As of: 6 Nov 2026 Licence: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)