Serbia: thousands of anti-government protesters block roads – DW – 06/30/2025
Thousands of protesters blocked major streets in the capital Belgrade and other cities, one night after a massive rally and clashes with police resulted in a "large" number of arrests.
Thousands of protesters set up street blockades on major roads in Belgrade and other Serbian cities on Sunday night.
The action comes one night after demonstrators held a huge rally in the capital calling for snap elections and for right-wing populist President Aleksandar Vucic to be removed from power.
Anti-corruption activists said the street blockades were a response to the arrest of "a large number of citizens" after Saturday's rally in downtown Belgrade, which drew around 140,000 people.
Demonstrators erected metal fences and placed garbage containers across the city.
The demonstrators on Sunday demanded the release of dozens of students and other protesters who were arrested for clashing with police during the rally the previous night.
Serbian media reported similar blockades at smaller cities in the Balkan nation.
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Serbia has been rocked by months of anti-government protests that were sparked by a deadly rail station roof collapse in November 2024 in which 16 people were killed.
The accident has been widely blamed on government corruption and negligence.
Vucic has repeatedly rejected calls for an early election and accused unnamed "foreign powers" of fueling the student-led protest movement.
Earlier on Sunday, Vucic again rejected demands for early elections and accused the movement of causing "terror."
"Serbia has won, and you cannot defeat Serbia by violence as some wanted," Vucic said in a televised address.
Presidential and parliamentary elections are set for 2027.
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DW
21 hours ago
- DW
Serbia: thousands of anti-government protesters block roads – DW – 06/30/2025
Thousands of protesters blocked major streets in the capital Belgrade and other cities, one night after a massive rally and clashes with police resulted in a "large" number of arrests. Thousands of protesters set up street blockades on major roads in Belgrade and other Serbian cities on Sunday night. The action comes one night after demonstrators held a huge rally in the capital calling for snap elections and for right-wing populist President Aleksandar Vucic to be removed from power. Anti-corruption activists said the street blockades were a response to the arrest of "a large number of citizens" after Saturday's rally in downtown Belgrade, which drew around 140,000 people. Demonstrators erected metal fences and placed garbage containers across the city. The demonstrators on Sunday demanded the release of dozens of students and other protesters who were arrested for clashing with police during the rally the previous night. Serbian media reported similar blockades at smaller cities in the Balkan nation. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Serbia has been rocked by months of anti-government protests that were sparked by a deadly rail station roof collapse in November 2024 in which 16 people were killed. The accident has been widely blamed on government corruption and negligence. Vucic has repeatedly rejected calls for an early election and accused unnamed "foreign powers" of fueling the student-led protest movement. Earlier on Sunday, Vucic again rejected demands for early elections and accused the movement of causing "terror." "Serbia has won, and you cannot defeat Serbia by violence as some wanted," Vucic said in a televised address. Presidential and parliamentary elections are set for 2027.
Int'l Business Times
a day ago
- Int'l Business Times
Serbian Leader Digs In, Slams Early Elections Rally
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic insisted Sunday that he would not cave in to the 140,000 protesters who rallied in the capital overnight demanding early elections, while vowing more arrests after clashes broke out. Saturday's rally was one of the largest in more than half a year of demonstrations triggered by the roof collapse at a train station in the city of Novi Sad in November, killing 16 people -- a disaster widely blamed on entrenched corruption. Unlike previous gatherings, which took place without incident, clashes erupted between demonstrators and riot police. "Serbia has won, and you cannot defeat Serbia by violence as some wanted," Vucic said in a public address. He accused the student-led movement of causing "terror" and promised there would be more arrests over the violence. AFP journalists saw riot police using tear gas and batons as protesters hurled flares and bottles at rows of officers in several clashes following the massive gathering in Belgrade. Authorities said 48 officers were injured, one seriously, and put the crowd size at 36,000 -- well below an independent estimate by the Archive of Public Gatherings of around 140,000. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said 22 people sought medical help, of whom two were seriously injured. Police detained 77 people, with 38 still in custody, according to Dacic. "There will be many more arrested for attacking police... this is not the end," Vucic said. He added that there would be "no negotiations with terrorists and those who wanted to destroy the state -- accountability follows". "Revenge must not be our language, but responsibility must be part of our consciousness," he said. Later on Sunday, six people were arrested on accusations of several crimes, including planning to block roads and attack state institutions "in order to violently change the state order", the Higher Prosecutor's Office said in a statement. An operation was ongoing, the statement said. Protest organisers meanwhile called for the release of a "large number of citizens" and "numerous students", and announced a rally in front of the prosecutor's office. "This is not a moment for withdrawal," the protest group said on Instagram. Ahead of Saturday's protest, organisers had issued an "ultimatum" for Vucic to call elections -- a demand he rejected well before the rally began. On Sunday, he reiterated there would not be any national vote before the end of 2026. The outcry over the Novi Sad disaster has already led to the resignation of the country's prime minister. Yet the governing party has kept power, with a reshuffled administration and the president still in office. Vucic has repeatedly alleged the protests are part of a foreign plot to destroy his government. After the rally, organisers played a statement to the crowd calling for Serbians to "take freedom into your own hands" and giving them the "green light". "The authorities had all the mechanisms and all the time to meet the demands and prevent an escalation," the organisers said in a statement on Instagram. One monitor said 140,000 protesters marched in Belgrade on Saturday AFP
DW
2 days ago
- DW
Serbia: Police clash with anti-government demonstrators – DW – 06/28/2025
The student-led protest in Belgrade follows months of nationwide rallies against President Aleksandar Vucic's government, with organizers threatening to launch a civil disobedience campaign. Serbian police clashed with anti-government protesters in Serbia's capital, Belgrade Saturday night, as demonstrators demanded early parliamentary elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic's rule. Officers in riot gear used pepper spray to disperse crowds after flares were thrown near a counter-protest by Vucic supporters. Earlier protesters, led by students, issued an ultimatum, saying that the government must call snap elections or face a campaign of civil disobedience. Saturday's clashes comes after months of anti-government demonstrations that were sparked by a deadly rail station collapse last year that killed 16 people and was widely blamed on government corruption and negligence. Some 140,000 people took part in Saturday's demonstration, according to independent protest monitor Archive of Public Gatherings. Vucic has repeatedly rejected calls for early elections and accused unnamed "foreign powers" of fueling the protests. "The country will be defended, and thugs will face justice," he told reporters in Belgrade on Saturday. Presidential and parliamentary elections are set for 2027. Vucic's refusal has only energized demonstrators, particularly university students, who have become a driving force behind the movement. "The reluctance of Vucic makes it all the more important to be there now," said Tara, a student who gave only her first name to DW. "We want to show the president that we want elections. The fight is not over, and the protests are not over yet." "Realistically, we have to prolong the protest a little longer," added Kristina. "But we're almost at the finish line," said Teodora. "Vucic is on his last legs." In a now-routine pre-protest crackdown, more than a dozen people have been arrested, including five on Friday who were remanded for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government, according to Serbia's Higher Court. Thousands of Vucic supporters gathered near parliament in a counter-demonstration. Jasmina Matovic, a tax administration employee from Cacak in central Serbia, voiced her support for the ruling government. "I support the best president in Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. I support the honest people of Serbia, not these blockade politicians who want to lead Serbia into a catastrophe," she told DW. Students have also called for the removal of pro-government encampments set up by Vucic loyalists in Pionirski Park.
