The output festival is withdrawn from Serbia after supporting student protests

One of the largest music festivals in Europe is withdrawn from Serbia, with organizers accusing “undemocratic pressure”.

The starting festival will hold its 25th anniversary edition in the country between July 10 and 13, but said it “will be the last to take place” there.

Organizers say the Serbian authorities interrupted state funding for the event, and some sponsors were “forced to withdraw under the pressure of the state.”

They say this refers to the support of the festival for continuous A protest movement led by students in Serbia.

Provincial officials of the Culture Secretariat have rejected allegations, accusing the financial pressure of “unable to provide support.”

Holded at the Petrovaradin Fortress in the second city of Serbia, Novi Sad, the festival attracted 200,000 visitors last year.

The outcome has its roots in the protest movement of pro -Democracy, which ultimately led to the defeat of Slobodan Milosevic in the presidential election of Yugoslavia in 2000.

This activist tradition continues, giving a topic every year ranging from “stop trafficking in people” to “strong and Queer”.

After the disaster in November at the Novi Sad Railway Station – where 16 people died when the concrete canopy collapsed – students fired protests and the festival offered their support.

This varies from joining students in protest marches to the provision of “food, sleeping bags and other needs” and publication of social media support messages and the Exit website.

Founder Dusan Kovachevich says this has already come to heavy financial costs for the festival, but this “freedom has no price”.

In a statement about the decision In order to get out of Serbia after 25 years, he urges people to remember the exit “not for their end, but for their unity. For love. For freedom.”

It is unclear whether the festival will strive to move to another country and if so.

The title acts over the years include white stripes, Arctic monkeys and treatment.

Next month, Prodigy return for their sixth appearance at the festival, along with sex pistols starring Frank Carter and French DJ and producer DJ Snake.

Exit won two awards at the European Festival of the Year and has become one of the largest multi-day music events on the continent.

Daryl Fidelak, who runs a recording label based in Belgrade, says the festival has had a huge influence on the creative scene of Serbia.

“This opened the eyes of the international audience, wearing many foreigners who may have had a negative one – or not even – the impression of Serbia,” he says.

“The output helped Serbia get to a good place with live music and culture by spawning many other festivals, bookmakers and events.”