Tens of thousands gathered in Belgrade on Saturday to demand early parliamentary elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vučić’s 12‑year hold on power, prompting a heavy police deployment and tense confrontations.
reuters.com
apnews.com
apnews.com
Authorities stationed riot police in full gear around government buildings and Parliament, while supporters of the president camped in Pionirski Park, bolstering the political standoff. After the main protest ended at around 22:00 local time, clashes erupted: demonstrators hurled bottles, flares and rocks, and police responded with pepper spray, stun grenades and physical force. Reports indicate dozens of protesters were detained, and six officers along with an unspecified number of civilians sustained injuries.
University students, who have sustained the eight-month-long anti-corruption campaign since a fatal roof collapse at Novi Sad railway station, claimed authorities escalated tensions. Protesters released a statement on X, asserting that “every radicalisation of the situation is [the authorities’] responsibility.” Interior Minister Ivica Dačić defended the deployment as necessary to preserve public order, stating police would “apply all its powers to repel attacks, and arrest all those who attacked the police.”
President Vučić, whose parliamentary coalition holds 156 of 250 seats, dismissed allegations of corruption and authoritarianism. He accused unnamed foreign actors of orchestrating the unrest and affirmed that those initiating violence “wanted to topple Serbia”, but he vowed they “failed” and would face justice.
Independent monitors estimated around 140,000 participants in the protest, contrasting sharply with the government’s figure of 36,000. Demonstrators packed Slavija Square and adjacent streets, chanting “We want elections!” and confronting lines of riot units. Some masked participants used makeshift shields and flares to push toward the pro-government encampment.
The movement’s origins trace back to November 2024, when a canopy collapse at Novi Sad station claimed 16 lives. That disaster sparked outrage over alleged state negligence and corruption, galvanising students and civic groups to call for accountability and broader political reform. The protests escalated into university blockades and nationwide demonstrations.
Earlier this week, police arrested several individuals—including students and a former war veteran—accusing them of plotting to overthrow the government. Prosecutors alleged weapons were involved. Critics argue these arrests are part of a pre-emptive crackdown intended to intimidate dissenters ahead of Saturday’s rally.
Political analysts note the protest coincided with St Vitus Day, a symbolic holiday marking Serbia’s medieval resistance against Ottoman rule. Choosing the date carries potent historical resonance and appears designed to evoke national unity. The president’s supporters, some bussed in from across the country, echoed this theme via their slogans and visible presence.
