A significant rally in Belgrade, marked by around 140,000 anti-government protesters, resulted in clashes with police amid calls for early elections and accusations of government corruption.
Tensions Escalate as Police and Protesters Clash in Belgrade
Tensions Escalate as Police and Protesters Clash in Belgrade
Tens of thousands demonstrate against President Vucic's extended rule, leading to violent confrontations and mass arrests.
Serbian police faced off against a massive crowd of anti-government protesters in Belgrade, where demands for early elections and the resignation of President Aleksandar Vucic intensified. The demonstration, which drew approximately 140,000 people on Saturday, is the largest mobilization seen in recent months and is propelled by mounting student-led activism against the populist administration. Protesters chanted “We want elections!” as tensions escalated, leading to arrests and violent confrontations. Riot police deployed tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
President Vucic responded, alleging that those demanding elections were part of a foreign conspiracy aimed at destabilizing Serbia, asserting, "They wanted to topple Serbia, and they have failed." Concerns about a plot to overthrow the government led to the detention of five individuals the day before the protests, according to Serbia's Higher Court in Belgrade. Following the unrest, the police minister condemned violence by protesters and promised that those responsible would face arrest.
The ongoing student demonstrations, coupled with widespread protests across the nation, have shaken Vucic's administration. With his current term ending in 2027, the pressure is mounting as protesters demand accountability, citing allegations of corruption and his government’s links to organized crime. Protesters, like 37-year-old farmer Sladjana Lojanovic, expressed their determination to support the students, claiming that institutional decay and corruption necessitate new elections, despite Vucic's reluctance to consider them.
The unrest was ignited by a tragic incident last November, when the roof of a railway station in Novi Sad collapsed, resulting in the deaths of 16 people. Many blame governmental corruption for the catastrophe, which previously compelled the former Prime Minister to step down. As the protest concluded, organizers called on Serbians to "take freedom into your own hands," indicating that the government had numerous opportunities to rectify grievances before resorting to repression. They asserted, "Any radicalization of the situation is their responsibility."
