Tens of Thousands Protest in Belgrade: Student-Led Rally Demands Elections and Accountability
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, on Saturday for a student-led anti-government rally. The demonstration, which began peacefully at Slavija Square, later saw sporadic clashes between groups of young protesters and riot police. The protests are part of a broader movement demanding early parliamentary elections and accountability following a fatal train station accident in November 2024.
Protest Details and Clashes
The rally drew demonstrators from across the country, with the state railway company cancelling all trains to and from Belgrade on the day of the protest. According to police estimates, approximately 34,300 people attended the demonstration.
Following the rally, some protesters threw flares, rocks, and bottles at police lines. Police responded with pepper spray and deployed anti-riot vehicles to disperse the crowd. Near the presidency building, police used tear gas and stun grenades, while protesters set bins on fire. The clashes ended shortly after they began.
Background and Demands
The protests stem from the November 2024 collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. The incident, which protesters link to alleged corruption, led to the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic in January 2025.
University students have since led a movement demanding:
- Early parliamentary elections
- A transparent investigation into the accident
- Enforcement of the rule of law
Government and International Response
President Aleksandar Vucic, who was traveling to China at the time of the protest, stated that demonstrators "have shown their violent nature and cannot stand political opponents." Vucic has said elections could be held between September and November 2025.
Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic downplayed the rally, stating it offered nothing new and citing the official police attendance estimate.
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, criticized Serbia's government this week, citing reports of police protecting masked attackers of journalists and protesters.
The European Union's top enlargement official has warned that democratic backsliding under President Vucic could cost Serbia approximately 1.5 billion euros in EU funding.
Statements from Participants and Analysts
Protester Maja Milas Markovic said students "managed to gather us here with their youth and wonderful energy; I really believe that we have the right to live normally."
Political analyst Tetyana Kekic told Al Jazeera that the protests enjoy "huge support from the public, and that’s because they’re an all-encompassing movement … against the government." Kekic noted that the movement lacks a clear political platform and a designated leader to challenge the president.
Prosecutor Bojana Savovic told the crowd at the rally:
"A state where laws are not implemented or are implemented selectively is no longer a state, it becomes a mafia organization."