A mural of a human figure on a wall (graffiti) in Belgrade, dedicated to tennis legend Novak Djokovic, was defaced with black paint, according to posts on social media on Tuesday. The artwork, created by architect and activist Andrej Josifovski, known as The Pianist, was inspired by a gesture made by Novak during this year’s Wimbledon tournament – a motion resembling tyre-pumping – which was interpreted as a show of support for anti-government protests in Serbia.
The graffiti, depicting Djokovic in this distinctive pose, featured the caption: “Pumpaj, pumpaj! Zasto si stao?” (“Pump it, pump it! Why did you stop?”). However, an unknown individual covered it with black paint. The phrase “pumpaj” is part of a song but has also become one of the main slogans of the student protests in the country.
Josifovski, the artist behind the piece, shared photos of the painted-over wall, accusing government supporters of the act of vandalism.
“They could have just erased the words ‘Pumpaj, pumpaj’, but to cross out Novak’s figure – I really don’t understand it. That means they’re willing to erase history, just to stay in power. Incredible!” said The Pianist in a comment to the Serbian newspaper Danas.
Novak Djokovic, the globally celebrated tennis player, has repeatedly expressed support for the anti-government protests in Serbia. He recently announced that he and his family are relocating to Greece. He also moved his tennis tournament to the Greek capital, Athens, after being labelled “a traitor” by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Gazzetta dello Sport reported in September.
In November 2024, a canopy at Novi Sad’s train station collapsed killing 16 people. The tragedy triggered the emergence of a student-led protest movement, which analysts have compared to the spirit of the youth uprisings of 1968. Students have been at the forefront of anti-government demonstrations that quickly grew into mass protests. In May, for the first time, they called for early elections. This summer the protests escalated into civil disobedience, clashes with police, and mass arrests. Belgrade Mural of Tennis Legend Novak Djokovic Defaced Amid His Support for Anti-Government Protests THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-10-21 21:23:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
