Cliff Notes – Tens of thousands rally against Serbian government
- Tens of thousands participated in a significant anti-government rally in Belgrade, led primarily by students, marking a major challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade-long rule amid ongoing anti-corruption protests.
- Sporadic violence occurred during the rally, including car attacks that injured protesters and clashes resulting in several arrests, but the overall atmosphere among demonstrators remained jubilant.
- The protests were spurred by a recent tragedy linked to corruption—a roof collapse at a railway station in Novi Sad that killed 15 people—prompting calls for accountability and an anti-corruption campaign from the government.
Tens of thousands rally against Serbian government in biggest challenge yet to president’s rule
Tens of thousands of people have taken part in a major anti-government rally in the Serbian capital Belgrade.The action, led by students, is being seen as the culmination of months of anti-corruption protests which have posed the largest challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic’s decade-long rule.
Demonstrators have been facing off against his supporters. Mr Vucic, who was Serbian prime minister between 2014 and 2017 before becoming president, repeatedly warned ahead of Saturday’s protests about alleged plans for unrest while threatening arrests and tough sentences for any incidents.
The president’s supporters have been camped out this week inside a ring of tractors in Pionirski Park, where hundreds of riot police have also been deployed.
Violence overnight
Amid the tensions, there was sporadic violence overnight and into Saturday.
A car was driven into protesters in the Zarkovo suburb of the city, injuring three people, as police said they arrested the driver.
In central Belgrade, a student and a university lecturer were wounded in an attack by a group of men early on Saturday, according to police.
Officers also said three people were detained after an overnight attack on the tractors stationed around Pionirski Park.
Protesters on Saturday was jubilant
However, the atmosphere among students and other protesters on Saturday was jubilant. Hundreds of veteran soldiers and bikers, who pledged allegiance to the students, lined up along the route where demonstrators were due to march from in front of the national parliament to Slavija Square, less than a mile away.
Hundreds of security guards from the students’ own ranks were also deployed between police and protesters. On Friday evening, tens of thousands of people turned out to welcome thousands of students who have been marching or cycling for days from across the country towards Belgrade for the main rally.
The anti-government protests started last December after 15 people died when a railway station roof collapsed.
Critics blamed the 1 November disaster in the northern city of Novid Sad on corruption under the president’s rule. Prosecutors have charged 13 people over the incident, and the government announced an anti-corruption campaign.Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and two ministers have also resigned.