Serbia populist leader Vucic says pride ban will be enforced

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s populist leader says a government decision to cancel the holding next month of a pan-European LGBTQ event will be enforced despite criticism and organizers’ pledge that they will gather anyway. President Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbian government have cited violence threats from right-wing extremists, a crisis with Kosovo and economic problems facing the country amid Russia’s war in Ukraine as the reasons why they cannot handle the Sept. 12-18 events. Organizers say they are yet to receive a formal ban and will appeal it at Serbia’s courts.