Her Minister of Education Serbia Branko Ruzic resigned Sunday, days after a school shooting in which a 13-year-old boy killed eight students and a security guard.

Branko Ruzic expressed condolences to the families of the victims of the “ineffable tragedy” that shook the Balkan country in an open letter to Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.

🇺🇸 @socijalisti pic.twitter.com/LiWKLTnj83

— Branko Ruzic (@brrankoruzicsps) May 7, 2023

“I submit my irrevocable resignation from the post of Minister of Education in the Government of the Republic of Serbia,” Ruzic wrote in a letter posted on Twitter.

A senior member of ruling coalition partner, the Socialist Party of Serbia (SDP), Ruzic blamed the Internet, video games and “Western values” for the unprecedented carnage in Serbia.

Opposition parties and human rights organizations called for his resignation immediately after the tragedy.

Less than 48 hours after the shooting incident, another massacre rocked Serbia again when a 21-year-old man killed eight people with automatic weapons near Belgrade.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic promised to launch a large-scale disarmament plan.

According to the Small Arms Survey (SAS) research project, in Serbia 39% of the inhabitants own a firearm, which is the highest rate in Europe among citizens who own weapons.

Source: APE/MEB