SNS billboard removed from building in Belgrade, endangered nest of protected bird species

(Patria) - The banner "Srbija pobjeđuje" (Serbia wins), which endangered the nests of the white-rumped swift, a strictly protected species that has inhabited the center of Belgrade for years, was removed tonight from the Albanija Palace. The removal of the banner began around 7 PM, and climbers removed it around 8:30 PM.

A large group of citizens gathered in front of the Palace, blocking traffic in Kolarčeva Street from 2 PM, demanding the removal of the banner. Citizens welcomed the removal of the banner with whistles and applause, as well as shouts of "Remove it", "Pump it", "The government is falling" and "Ua".

The Faculty of Biology, the Society for the Protection and Study of Birds of Serbia, students in blockade, choirs, and citizens have been demanding since Friday that the banner with the inscription "Srbija pobjeđuje" be removed, so that the chicks of the white-rumped swift do not die of hunger.

An expert team from the Institute for Nature Protection of Serbia, together with representatives of the Belgrade municipality of Stari Grad, earlier today, by order of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, organized an emergency action to care for and feed the chicks of the white-rumped swift at the Albanija Palace.

Finance Minister Siniša Mali announced this morning that the banner would be removed today, and later confirmed by President Aleksandar Vučić, who announced the arrival of climbers at 7 PM.

According to Vučić, the SNS Municipal Committee of Stari Grad paid for and hung the banner, but they did not know that birds were nesting there. He added that the progressives from Stari Grad had no ill intent.