Malo Orasje and Dubona mass shooting victims commemorated on third anniversary of massacre

Photo: Tanjug/Ana Paunkovic

Commemoration ceremonies dedicated to the victims of a mass shooting that took place three years ago today, are being held in the village of Malo Orasje near the town of Smederevo. The crime was committed in this, and the nearby village of Dubona by Uros Blazic. He has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing nine and seriously injuring 12 youths on May 4, 2023.

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After the laying of wreaths in Malo Orasje, a memorial service started with a minute's silence in honor of the victims.

Mayor of Smederevo Jasmina Vojinovic addressed those gathered and said that while time keeps moving all the time, sometimes it appears to be standing still.

"We get used to the silence, but we don't accept it. It continues in the wake of every step, every memory, every look, every empty seat at a table. That's why it's important not to let silence turn into oblivion," she said.

A friend of the victims, Jovan Stevanovic, and the founder of the Angelina Foundation, Andjelko Acimovic - the father of Angelina, a girl who died in the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary mass shooting that occurred just a day earlier - also spoke in Malo Orasje today.

During the commemoration, a video was displayed, featuring photographs of the young people who were shot and killed by Igor Blazic, and then their names, along with brief biographies were read out.

Several dozen white balloons were released as part of the ceremony.

A game between Ravni Gaj and Smederevo football clubs will be also played today to honor and remember the victims, with the first kick to be performed a survivor of the massacre, Nemanja Ilic, who is a Ravni Gaj footballer.

The program will end with a memorial tournament "Zivite" ("You Live"), an event organized jointly by the parents of the victims, FC Ravni Gaj, and the Angelina Foundation.

On May 4, 2023, Uros Blazic killed nine and seriously wounded 12 young people, shooting from automatic weapons.

Given that he was not yet 21 years old at the time of the commission of the crime, according to Serbia's Criminal Code, he was tried as a minor, and could not be sentenced to life in prison - which would otherwise have been the case.

The shooter's father, Radisa Blazic, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the crimes of illegal production, possession, carrying and distribution of weapons and explosive substances, and a serious crime against general safety.

In September 2024, the Government decided to establish May 3 and 4 as Days of Remembrance for the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary and Orasje and Dubona victims.

The Week of Remembrance and Unity is marked in elementary and high schools in Serbia, May 4-8.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)