Unrest in Serbia over Government and Police Aggression

In the past ten months, protests have been a regular occurrence in Serbia, primarily focused on accusations of corruption and autocracy against President Aleksandar Vucic. The latest demonstrations took place in Belgrade and Novi Sad, with thousands of people gathering to voice their discontent.

The protests were sparked by a tragic event – the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people. Independent experts and opposition figures blame shoddiness and corruption under the Vucic government for the railway station disaster.

The protests in Novi Sad escalated at the building of the local Philosophy Faculty. The pro-government dean of the Philosophy Faculty forced students to leave the building they had occupied for nine months, with the help of police. In the recent Novi Sad protest, police used tear gas, stun grenades, and batons against peaceful protesters, an action that fueled the protesters' anger, particularly directed at the police's recent violent intervention.

The demonstrators accused President Vucic of corruption and autocracy, echoing media reports that the government claimed protesters had attacked police officers. The protests in Belgrade were also significant due to the recent violent intervention by the police.

The independent TV station N1 reported the gathering, broadcasting images of the protests and the confrontations between the police and the protesters. The protesters gathered in front of the government building, the Supreme Court, and several facilities of the Ministry of Interior.

Despite the ongoing protests, the independent experts who attributed blame for the Novi Sad train accident to corruption and misconduct under the Vučić government have not been specifically named in public sources. However, the accusations continue to resonate with the Serbian public, fuelling the ongoing protests against President Vucic and his government.