Novak Djokovic is the victim of a ‘political witch hunt’, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic claimed on Thursday as fans in Belgrade fought for the controversial tennis star after Australian authorities revoked his entry visa. The lawyers of the 34-year-old number one in the world are appealing against the decision that, if unsuccessful, would deport him from Australia. Vaccine skeptic Djokovic was detained on arrival at Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport for not having “appropriate evidence” of double vaccination or a medical exemption.
Djokovic had flown a plane to Melbourne on Wednesday after receiving a medical exemption from the organizers of the Australian Open.
He hoped to defend his Australian Open crown and claim an unprecedented 21st Grand Slam title.
However, Vucic claimed that Djokovic was being hounded because other tennis players had been allowed to enter Australia with medical exemptions.
“What’s not fair is the political witch-hunt (which is being waged against Novak), by everyone, including the Australian Prime Minister, who pretends the rules apply to everyone,” Vucic told media.
Vucic said the Australian ambassador has been approached twice by Serbian authorities and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic will contact a senior member of Australia’s Home Affairs Department.
The Serbs will ask the Australian authorities that Djokovic may at least stay, while his appeal is being heard, in the Melbourne home he rented for the Australian Open (which runs from January 17 to January 30) and not at the hotel that he was sent to.
“I fear that this relentless political pursuit of Novak will continue until the moment they can prove something because if you can’t beat someone, you turn to this kind of thing,” Vucic said.
“Chaotic”
In the Serbian capital Belgrade, Djokovic’s father Srdjan, along with several hundred others, led a demonstration in front of the country’s parliament.
“We’re not calling for violence…just support” for Novak, Srdjan shouted into a megaphone, as the crowd waved Serbian flags and homemade signs, including a banner that read: “They fear the best, stop corona fascism”.
Elsewhere in the Serbian capital, reactions to the fiasco appeared more mixed.
“They don’t allow people from other continents into their country who have mud on their shoes, let alone someone who has not been vaccinated against a contagious disease,” Mihailo Kljajic, a 29-year-old flight attendant, told AFP.
“I don’t know what he expected to happen,” he added.
promoted
Others were shocked by the situation.
“It’s chaotic, crazy, disgusting,” said Branka Vuksanovic, a retiree.
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