Thousands attend pro-Serbia government rally after months of unrest
The Serbian leader had promoted the rally on Saturday as the launch of a "Movement for the People and the State", which would "save" Serbia from forces working to "destroy" the country.In a speech at the event, he called on prosecutors to work to restore order and peace. He claimed the student-led protests had been threatening Serbia's peace and stability, accusing attendees of being paid by "foreign intelligence agencies"."Certain foreign powers cannot bear to see a free, independent and sovereign Serbia", he said, without clarifying which "powers" he was referring to. Vucic also criticised national broadcaster RTS, describing it as a "key participant" in an attempted "colour revolution".
After the Novi Sad incident last November, some blamed what had happened on more than a decade of governing by the Progressive Party of Vucic - who closely associated himself with the station's prior renovation.It was considered a key part of the government's flagship infrastructure project - the high-speed line from Belgrade to Budapest in Hungary.The demonstrations that followed the disaster saw attendees use the slogan "corruption kills". They claimed that the opaque procurement procedures the government used for infrastructure projects had enriched a few favoured contractors while putting public safety at risk.Despite multiple resignations - and Vucic's insistence that he was going nowhere - protests grew.Last month, hundreds of thousands of people descended on Serbia's capital.An independent monitor estimated 325,000 - if not more - had gathered, making it Serbia's largest protest ever.
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Western Telegraph
2 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Serbian police remove barricades and make new arrests as protesters block roads
Demonstrators are demanding the release of dozens of university students and others arrested after a massive weekend rally, accused of attacking the police or plotting to overthrow the government. Police dismantled metal fences and moved garbage containers blocking traffic in Belgrade's Zemun district on Monday, while several dozen protesters raised their hands in the air and chanted anti-government slogans. Serbian gendarmerie officers prepare to remove a street blockade that was set up as part of a protest in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Police also intervened separately in a city centre area. Protesters later changed tactics and continuously walked over a pedestrian crossing, thus blocking traffic again. The protests and blockades began after a train station canopy collapsed in November, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on corruption-fuelled negligence in state infrastructure projects. Thousands of demonstrators halted traffic at various locations in Belgrade and elsewhere throughout the country on Sunday evening, including a key bridge over the Sava River in the capital. Police removed those blockades early on Monday. Police said in a statement that a number of people were detained but did not specify how many. Video posted on social media showed police vehicles driving at high speed through a blockade in one Belgrade street and people fleeing in panic. Serbian gendarmerie officers stand in front of anti-government protesters in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Mr Vucic praised police action in a statement during a visit to Spain, saying: 'Citizens should not worry, the state is strong enough to secure law and order.' On Saturday, tens of thousands of people demanded a snap parliamentary election at a student-led rally they hope will oust Mr Vucic's right-wing government. Groups of protesters clashed with police after the official part of the rally ended. Dozens were later detained. Mr Vucic has refused to call the election, which is scheduled to be held in 2027. University students and professors are a key force behind nearly eight months of almost daily protests and Mr Vucic has accused them of 'terror' and attempts to destroy the country. Riot police used batons, pepper spray and shields to charge at demonstrators who threw rocks and other objects at police cordons. Nearly 40 people face criminal charges over the clashes, police said. People react as Serbian gendarmerie officers remove a street blockade that was set up as part of a protest in Belgrade (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Authorities detained at least eight university students for alleged acts against the constitutional order and national security, accusing them of planning attacks on state institutions. Critics say Mr Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago, stifling democratic freedoms while allowing corruption and organised crime to flourish, which he has denied. Serbia is formally seeking entry to the European Union, but Mr Vucic's government has nourished relations with Russia and China.
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Serbian police remove barricades and make new arrests as protesters block roads
Serbian police removed street barricades in the capital Belgrade that are part of persistent dissent against the government of populist President Aleksandar Vucic. Demonstrators are demanding the release of dozens of university students and others arrested after a massive weekend rally, accused of attacking the police or plotting to overthrow the government. Advertisement Police dismantled metal fences and moved garbage containers blocking traffic in Belgrade's Zemun district on Monday, while several dozen protesters raised their hands in the air and chanted anti-government slogans. Serbian gendarmerie officers prepare to remove a street blockade that was set up as part of a protest in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Police also intervened separately in a city centre area. Protesters later changed tactics and continuously walked over a pedestrian crossing, thus blocking traffic again. The protests and blockades began after a train station canopy collapsed in November, killing 16 people. Advertisement Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on corruption-fuelled negligence in state infrastructure projects. Thousands of demonstrators halted traffic at various locations in Belgrade and elsewhere throughout the country on Sunday evening, including a key bridge over the Sava River in the capital. Police removed those blockades early on Monday. Police said in a statement that a number of people were detained but did not specify how many. Advertisement Video posted on social media showed police vehicles driving at high speed through a blockade in one Belgrade street and people fleeing in panic. Serbian gendarmerie officers stand in front of anti-government protesters in Belgrade, Serbia (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Mr Vucic praised police action in a statement during a visit to Spain, saying: 'Citizens should not worry, the state is strong enough to secure law and order.' On Saturday, tens of thousands of people demanded a snap parliamentary election at a student-led rally they hope will oust Mr Vucic's right-wing government. Groups of protesters clashed with police after the official part of the rally ended. Advertisement Dozens were later detained. Mr Vucic has refused to call the election, which is scheduled to be held in 2027. University students and professors are a key force behind nearly eight months of almost daily protests and Mr Vucic has accused them of 'terror' and attempts to destroy the country. Riot police used batons, pepper spray and shields to charge at demonstrators who threw rocks and other objects at police cordons. Advertisement Nearly 40 people face criminal charges over the clashes, police said. People react as Serbian gendarmerie officers remove a street blockade that was set up as part of a protest in Belgrade (Darko Vojinovic/AP) Authorities detained at least eight university students for alleged acts against the constitutional order and national security, accusing them of planning attacks on state institutions. Critics say Mr Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago, stifling democratic freedoms while allowing corruption and organised crime to flourish, which he has denied. Serbia is formally seeking entry to the European Union, but Mr Vucic's government has nourished relations with Russia and China.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Reuters
Kremlin says anti-government protests in Serbia could be an attempted 'colour revolution'
MOSCOW, June 30 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that it could not rule out the possibility that anti-government protests in Serbia, a close Russian ally, could be an attempted "colour revolution", but that it was sure the Serbian leadership could restore calm. Serbian police on Saturday clashed with anti-government protesters demanding snap elections and an end to the 12-year rule of President Aleksandar Vucic. "Despite the fact that Serbia is, of course, under unprecedented pressure - we cannot rule out that well-known methods are being used there to provoke colour revolutions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We have no doubt that the current Serbian leadership will be able to restore law and order in the republic in the very near future," he added. Russia has traditionally regarded Vucic as a close ally and the Serbian leader was in Moscow on May 9 to watch the Red Square military parade held to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. Months of protests across Serbia, including university shutdowns, have rattled Vucic, a populist, whose second term ends in 2027, when there are also parliamentary elections scheduled. Vucic said unspecified "foreign powers" were behind the protest on Saturday and that protesters had been attempting to "topple Serbia" but had failed.
