Clashes broke out in Belgrade after a large anti-government protest on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people gathered to oppose President Aleksandar Vucic’s authoritarian rule. While the main rally was peaceful, groups of young demonstrators later clashed with riot police. They threw flares and bottles, and in response, police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
Earlier, protesters arrived carrying banners and wearing T-shirts with “Students win,” a motto of the youth movement. Many drove in from other Serbian towns, showing solid support.
Vucic’s government faces ongoing unrest, which began over a tragic train accident in November 2024 that killed sixteen. The rally demonstrated that public discontent has not faded, with many students demanding early elections and an end to government corruption. A striking comment from prosecutor Bojana Savovic captured the mood: “A state where laws are not applied becomes a mafia organization.”
Vucic, in a video from a flight to China, accused protesters of being violent and claimed that the government is functioning well. Meanwhile, parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabic dismissed the rally, citing a police estimate of just over 34,000 participants and stating that “democracy is flourishing.”
The peaceful part of the protest was quickly overshadowed by violence. Tensions spiked near a pro-Vucic camp set up outside the presidency, where music played amid heavy police presence.
Serbia’s state railway even canceled all trains to Belgrade, likely to limit turnout from outside the city. The government has faced international criticism for its heavy-handed approach to protesters. Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, recently noted an alarming deterioration in Serbia’s human rights situation, highlighting police protection of masked attackers targeting journalists.
Serbia aims to join the European Union but is caught in a complex web of relations with Russia and China. This democratic decline could cost Serbia significant EU funding. The recent protest took place in Slavija Square, a site of previous demonstrations that ended chaotically in March 2025, where an alleged sonic weapon was used.
The youth movement is gaining traction, attracting citizens disillusioned by years of political turmoil. With elections possibly scheduled between September and November, students are determined to challenge Vucic’s government.
Protesters like Maja Milas Markovic expressed hope, believing in their right to live in a normal society. As sentiments grow stronger, the political landscape in Serbia continues to shift, reflecting a populace eager for transformation.
For more on Serbia’s political climate and ongoing efforts for change, the Council of Europe’s latest report provides insight into the broader implications of recent events.
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Serbia, Protest
