{{EngvarB|date=March 2023}} {{Short description|Political party in Serbia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox political party | name = Leviathan Movement | native_name = Покрет Левијатан | native_name_lang = sr | colorcode = {{party color|Leviathan Movement}} | logo = Logo of the Leviathan Movement.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert | president = [[Pavle Bihali]] | founded = 2015 | registered = 2020 | headquarters = [[Belgrade]] | ideology = [[Neo-fascism]] | position = [[Far-right]] | colours = {{color box|{{party color|Leviathan Movement}}|border=darkgray}} Black | seats1_title = [[National Assembly (Serbia)|National Assembly]] | seats1 = {{Composition bar|0|250|{{party color|Leviathan Movement}}}} | seats2_title = [[Assembly of Vojvodina]] | seats2 = {{Composition bar|0|120|{{party color|Leviathan Movement}}}} | seats3_title = [[City Assembly of Belgrade]] | seats3 = {{Composition bar|0|110|{{party color|Leviathan Movement}}}} | flag = Flag of the Leviathan Movement.svg | flag_alt = Flag of the Leviathan Movement | website = {{URL|levijatan.org}} | country = Serbia }} {{Far-right politics in Serbia}} The '''Leviathan Movement''' ({{langx|sr|Покрет Левијатан|Pokret Levijatan}}) is a [[Neo-fascism|neo-fascist]] [[List of political parties in Serbia|political organisation]] in [[Serbia]], that presents itself as an animal rights organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2020/06/18/levijatan-serbian-animal-rights-vigilantes-go-to-the-polls/|title=Levijatan: Serbian Animal Rights Vigilantes Go To The Polls|first=Michael|last=Colborne|date=18 June 2020|publisher=Bellingcat}}</ref> It is led by [[Pavle Bihali]].
== History == The organisation was formed in 2015 as an [[animal rights group]], focused on safeguarding of stray dogs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=29 May 2020|title=Razvojni put Levijatana: Od brige za pse do potere za migrantima|url=https://www.istinomer.rs/analize/razvojni-put-levijatana-od-brige-za-pse-do-potere-za-migrantima/|access-date=3 December 2021|website=Istinomer|language=sr-RS}}</ref> In 2016, the movement became popular when videos of the members of organisation rescuing animals showed up on social media, as well as videos of them offering compensation for information on [[Animal Abuse|animal abusers]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=29 May 2020|title=Razvojni put Levijatana: Od brige za pse do potere za migrantima|url=https://www.istinomer.rs/analize/razvojni-put-levijatana-od-brige-za-pse-do-potere-za-migrantima/|access-date=9 June 2020|website=Istinomer|language=sr-RS}}</ref> Initially, the movement only focused on [[animal rights]] issues, exposing animal abusers, and taking their animals away from them.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petface|date=4 January 2018|title=LEVIJATAN: "Imamo svedočenja o silovanju i mučenju pasa, ali meštani ćute iz straha"!|url=https://petface.net/levijatan/|access-date=9 June 2020|website=Petface.net|language=en-US}}</ref> However, the movement has shifted from solely being an animal rights group to openly talking about political issues, mainly [[illegal immigration]].<ref name=":0" /> In 2020, the organisation announced that they will be forming a party that will participate in the [[2020 Serbian parliamentary election|2020 parliamentary election]], in a coalition with the far-right [[anti-vax]] "[[I live for Serbia]]" movement.
Its leader, Pavle Bihali, appeared under a Russian minority ballot list for the [[2022 Serbian general election|2022 election]] which was ultimately rejected by the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) because it did not collect enough valid signatures. According to CeSID, the ballot list did not support minority rights, but far-right politics.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2022 |title=Pojedine stranke glume manjine da bi lakše "uskočile" u poslaničke klupe |url=https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Srbija/300348/Pojedine-stranke-glume-manjine-da-bi-lakse-uskocile-u-poslanicke-klupe.html |access-date=16 March 2022 |website=021.rs |language=sr}}</ref> This was later overturned by the Constitutional Court, and on 22 March, RIK confirmed the ballot list.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 March 2022 |title=Ruski manjinski savez biće 19. lista za narodne poslanike, počinje štampanje glasačkih listića |url=https://www.021.rs/story/Info/Srbija/300907/Ruski-manjinski-savez-bice-19-lista-za-narodne-poslanike-pocinje-stampanje-glasackih-listica.html |access-date=22 March 2022 |website=021.rs |language=sr}}</ref> The list did not enter parliament.
In July 2023, the [[Constitutional Court of Serbia]] received a proposal from the Public Prosecutor's Office to ban Leviathan. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office of Serbia, Leviathan is a "paramilitary citizens association" and has been "aiming at violating guaranteed human or minority rights and caused racial, national and religious hatred".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kamenkovic |first=Sonja |date=2023-07-31 |title=Ustavni sud Srbije dobio predlog tužilaštva za zabranu Levijatana |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/ustavni-sud-srbije-dobio-predlog-tuzilastva-za-zabranu-udruzenja-levijatan/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=N1 |language=sr-RS}}</ref>
== Ideology and controversies == Leviathan has been described as [[Neo-fascism|neo-fascist]],<ref name=":0">{{cite web |first=Miodrag |last=Sovilj |date=20 May 2020 |title=Ljubitelji životinja koji vređaju žrtve fašista - šta je, zapravo, Levijatan? |language=sr |trans-title=Animal lovers who insult victims of fascists - what exactly is Leviathan? |url=http://rs.n1info.com/Vesti/a601600/Ljubitelji-zivotinja-koji-vredjaju-zrtve-fasista-sta-je-zapravo-Levijatan.html |publisher=N1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528233148/http://rs.n1info.com/Vesti/a601600/Ljubitelji-zivotinja-koji-vredjaju-zrtve-fasista-sta-je-zapravo-Levijatan.html |archive-date=28 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="nova.rs">{{Cite web |title=Pavle Bihali je spojio nemoguće, jevrejsko poreklo i nacističke simbole |language=sr |trans-title=Pavle Bihali combined the impossible, Jewish origin and Nazi symbols |url=https://nova.rs/politika/pavle-bihali-je-spojio-nemoguce-jevrejsko-poreklo-i-nacisticke-simbole/ |access-date=9 June 2020 |website=NOVA portal |date=15 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110183031/https://nova.rs/vesti/politika/pavle-bihali-je-spojio-nemoguce-jevrejsko-poreklo-i-nacisticke-simbole/ |archive-date=10 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="masina" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Eror |first=Aleks |date=11 February 2022 |title=Toksična mešavina nacionalizma i prava životinja u Srbiji |trans-title=A toxic mixture of nationalism and animal rights in Serbia |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/levijatan-nacionalizam-prava-zivotinja/31697457.html |access-date=13 March 2022 |newspaper=[[Radio Slobodna Evropa]] |language=sh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404193357/https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/levijatan-nacionalizam-prava-zivotinja/31697457.html |archive-date=4 April 2022}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Rudić |first=Filip |date=2023-07-27 |title=Istorija Levijatana: Od prava životinja do ekstremne desnice i izbornog neuspeha |url=https://n1info.rs/vesti/istorija-levijatana-od-prava-zivotinja-do-krajnje-desnice-i-izbornog-neuspeha/ |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=N1 |language=sr-RS}}</ref> [[Neo-Nazism|neo-Nazi]],<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mulhall |first1=Joe |title=State of Hate: Far-Right Extremism in Europe |last2=Khan-Ruf |first2=Safya |last3=Bego |first3=Fabio |publisher=[[Hope Not Hate]]; Amadeu Antonio Foundation; EXPO Foundation |year=2021 |location=London |pages=108 |chapter=Spotlight on the Western Balkans: Far-right trends in the region}}</ref><ref name=Balkan>{{cite news |first1=Vladan |last1=Djukanovic |first2=Jelena |last2=Djureinovic |first3=Predrag |last3=Momcilovic |date=23 October 2020 |access-date=2 February 2022 |title=In 'Far-Right Ecologism', European Extremists Pursue Broader Appeal |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/10/23/in-far-right-ecologism-european-extremists-pursue-broader-appeal/ |work=[[Balkan Insight]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105190704/https://balkaninsight.com/2020/10/23/in-far-right-ecologism-european-extremists-pursue-broader-appeal/ |archive-date=5 November 2020}}</ref> and [[alt-right]] party,<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2021 |title=Far-Right Exploiting Pandemic to Spread Hate, in the Balkans Too|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/12/03/far-right-exploiting-pandemic-to-spread-hate-in-the-balkans-too/|access-date=3 December 2021 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}}</ref> and it is positioned on the [[Far-right politics|far-right]] on the political spectrum.<ref name="masina">{{cite web|date=18 June 2020|title=Zašto je opasno ne shvatiti koaliciju "Pokret Levijatan – živim za Srbiju" ozbiljno|url=https://www.masina.rs/zasto-je-opasno-ne-shvatiti-koaliciju-pokret-levijatan-zivim-za-srbiju-ozbiljno/|website=masina.rs|publisher=Mašina|language=Serbian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=29 June 2019|title=Fašistički poklič "Srbija Srbima!"|url=https://balkans.aljazeera.net/opinions/2019/6/29/fasisticki-poklic-srbija-srbima|website=balkans.aljazeera.net|publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|language=Serbian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=26 March 2021|title=Far-right ideas have grown 'exponentially' in the UK|url=https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/far-right-ideas-have-grown-exponentially-in-the-uk-45342|access-date=7 February 2022|website=TRT World|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> It has been heavily criticised for its [[Human rights violation|anti-human rights]] behaviour.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 February 2020|title=Pokret Levijatan poziva na linč dece i ovo je moj odgovor, ipak nemam 14 godina|url=https://noizz.rs/big-stories/pokret-levijatan-poziva-na-linc-dece-i-ovo-je-moj-odgovor-ipak-nemam-14-godina/dheg5be|access-date=9 June 2020|website=Noizz.rs|language=sr}}</ref> It has been also described as a [[Bloc party (politics)|satellite party]] of the [[Serbian Progressive Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=22 April 2019|title=Neki optužuju Levijatan za saradnju sa SNS|url=https://www.danas.rs/vesti/drustvo/neki-optuzuju-levijatan-za-saradnju-sa-sns/|access-date=3 December 2021|website=Danas|language=sr-RS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|title=ONI VOLE ŽIVOTINJE: Ljubitelji Miloševića, Arkanovog kuma i kriminalaca gostuju na WMF-u u Rovinju|url=https://www.lupiga.com/vijesti/oni-vole-zivotinje-ljubitelji-milosevica-legije-kriminalaca-i-totenkopfa-u-rovinju|access-date=3 December 2021|website=Lupiga|language=hr}}</ref> In November 2018, the leaders of the movement, [[Pavle Bihali]] and Aleksandar Buhanac were arrested for making threats on [[Facebook]], but soon after they were released.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vođe "Levijatana" uhapšene pa puštene|url=https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/hronika/aktuelno.291.html:760763-Vodje-Levijatana-uhapsene-pa-pustene|access-date=10 June 2020|website=www.novosti.rs|language=sr-Latn}}</ref> Even after this, he continued threatening people on social media, including minors.<ref name="nova.rs"/> Leviathan has targeted minorities (mainly [[Romani people|Roma]]), immigrants, the LGBT community, and Leviathan's political opponents.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="RSE">{{Cite web |url=https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/levijatan-organizacija-srbija-zabrana-desnicari/32524430.html |title=Šta se zna o predlogu za zabranu ekstremno desničarskog Levijatana u Srbiji? |date=2023-07-18 |access-date=2023-10-06 |work=[[Radio Free Europe]] |lang=sr |first=Nevena |last=Bogdanović }}</ref> Its rhetoric has been described as [[xenophobic]].<ref name=":1" /> It also support [[anti-vax]] politics.<ref name=":2" />
In April 2020, members of the movement took the family dog of a [[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]] family away from them, claiming that the dog was abused and that it was used for dog fights. However this claim was denied by the people living in the neighbourhood.<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 April 2020|title=Levijatan i dalje "posećuje" Rome i oduzima životinje|url=https://www.masina.rs/?p=13087|access-date=9 June 2020|website=Mašina|language=en-US}}</ref> Not long after, a member of Leviathan drove through the gate of a refugee camp in [[Obrenovac]], threatening to run over the refugees. After the attacker was arrested, the members of the movement protested in front of the camp.<ref>{{Cite web|last=N.N.G|first=J. O.|title=SRAMNI PROTEST U OBRENOVCU Ultradesničari daju podršku članu Levijatana koji je upao u prihvatni centar i tako nastavljaju da ŠIRE MRŽNJU|url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/politika/sramni-protest-u-obrenovcu-ultradesnicari-daju-podrsku-clanu-levijatana-koji-je-upao/pzq881t|access-date=9 June 2020|website=Blic.rs|date=13 May 2020 |language=sr}}</ref>
In October 2020, police in [[Belgrade]] have arrested six members of Leviathan who are suspected of beating one person earlier that month.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beta|first=Piše|title=Uhapšeno šest članova Levijatana zbog sumnje da su pretukli jednu osobu|url=https://www.danas.rs/drustvo/uhapseno-sest-clanova-levijatana-zbog-sumnje-da-su-pretukli-jednu-osobu/|access-date=16 October 2020|website=Dnevni list Danas|date=14 October 2020|language=sr-RS}}</ref>
== Electoral results == === Parliamentary elections === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ [[National Assembly of Serbia]] ! Year ! Leader ! Popular vote ! % of popular vote ! # of seats ! Seat change ! Coalitions ! rowspan=1|Government |- ! [[2020 Serbian parliamentary election|2020]] | rowspan="2"| [[Pavle Bihali]] | 22,691 | 0.7% | {{Composition bar|0|250|{{party color|Leviathan Movement}}}} | {{nochange}} | with ''I live for Serbia'' | style="background:#ddd;"| No seats |- ! [[2022 Serbian general election|2022]] | 9,569 | 0.25% | {{Composition bar|0|250|{{party color|Leviathan Movement}}}} | {{steady}} | Serbo-Russian Movement (As part of Russian Minority Alliance) | style="background:#ddd;"| No seats |}
==See also== *[[Far-right politics in Serbia]]
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Serbian political parties}}
[[Category:Alt-right organizations]] [[Category:Animal rights organizations]] [[Category:Far-right politics in Serbia]] [[Category:Nationalist parties in Serbia]] [[Category:Neo-fascist parties]] [[Category:Neo-Nazi organizations]] [[Category:Neo-Nazism in Serbia]] [[Category:Political parties established in 2020]] [[Category:Russophilic parties in Serbia]] [[Category:Serb nationalist parties]] [[Category:Organizations that oppose LGBTQ rights in Serbia]] [[Category:Ecofascism]] [[Category:Vaccine hesitancy]]