Clashes Erupt in Belgrade as Anti-Government Protests Intensify

In Belgrade, Serbian police clashed with a massive crowd of approximately 140,000 anti-government protesters on Saturday, who are demanding early elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic’s 12-year tenure. This rally marks one of the largest turnouts in recent months as student-led demonstrations continue to amplify pressure on the populist government. Chants of “We want elections!” echoed throughout the city.

The unrest led to dozens of arrests, with riot police deploying tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the crowds. President Vucic responded by accusing the protesters, who are calling for elections, of being part of a foreign conspiracy aimed at destabilizing Serbia. “They wanted to topple Serbia, and they have failed,” he stated in an Instagram post.

On Friday, five individuals were detained under allegations of plotting to overthrow the government, as reported by Serbia’s Higher Court in Belgrade. In the wake of the clashes, the police minister condemned the violence exhibited by the protesters and promised that those responsible would face arrest.

Months of nationwide protests, including university shutdowns, have unsettled President Vucic, whose second term is set to end in 2027, coinciding with parliamentary elections. The president has previously dismissed calls for snap elections, while his Progressive Party-led coalition controls 156 out of 250 parliamentary seats.

Vucic’s opponents have accused him and his associates of connections to organized crime, corruption, and suppressing media freedoms, allegations they deny. He has maintained close ties with Russia, and Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, has refrained from joining the Western sanctions against Moscow.

The wave of protests, which began last December, was ignited by the tragic collapse of the Novi Sad railway station’s roof that resulted in 16 fatalities on November 1. Protesters attribute the disaster to systemic corruption, which has already led to the resignation of the former prime minister.

As the protest concluded on Saturday, organizers addressed the crowd, urging Serbians to “take freedom into your own hands” and declaring a “green light” for action. In their statement on Instagram following the rally, they criticized the authorities for failing to address the protesters’ demands and warned that any escalation would be the government’s responsibility, stating, “Instead, they opted for violence and repression against the people.”