Belgrade witnessed one of the largest demonstrations in decades as more than 100,000 protesters flooded the streets on Sunday, demanding government accountability over corruption and negligence accusations. The unrest follows months of anti-government rallies triggered by a railway station roof collapse that killed 15 people, sparking nationwide outrage.
The protest movement has rapidly gained momentum, drawing in students, teachers, and farmers, posing a significant challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic, who has been in power for 12 years as either prime minister or president. Demonstrators accused Vucic’s government of failing to address widespread corruption and mismanagement, allegations the administration has firmly denied.
Tensions Rise Amid Heavy Police Presence
The protests remained largely peaceful, though tensions escalated in some areas. In a Belgrade suburb, a car plowed into a column of demonstrators, injuring three people. In a separate incident, a group of men attacked and injured a student and a university lecturer in the city center. Authorities reported 13 arrests overnight and early Sunday, including three individuals suspected of vandalizing tractors belonging to pro-government farmers who had set up camp near Pionirski Park.
Security forces were heavily deployed throughout the capital, while protesters formed their own security groups clad in yellow vests to maintain order. Hundreds of veterans from elite military brigades, along with bikers allied with the students, stood in formation as the march progressed between the parliament building and Slavija Square.
Calls for Transparency and Justice
Protesters are demanding the release of documents related to the railway station collapse in Novi Sad, as well as accountability for those responsible. Many demonstrators traveled long distances, some walking or biking hundreds of miles to join the rally in Belgrade.
Student leader Aleksa Cvetanovic, 23, who has been actively involved in demonstrations since December, emphasized the movement’s goals. “Today we will demonstrate our dissent … to show what we are striving for, a normal state, a state of law, without corruption, lying, media pressures, persecutions,” he stated.
Despite the government’s attempts to downplay the protests, a security source and eyewitnesses confirmed the massive turnout, with streets overwhelmed by demonstrators chanting slogans and lighting flares.
Government Response and Future Implications
The Serbian government has dismissed the accusations of corruption and incompetence, instead attributing the protests to Western intelligence agencies allegedly seeking to destabilize the country. However, with growing public dissatisfaction and an increasingly mobilized opposition, Vucic’s administration faces mounting pressure to address the grievances.
Prosecutors have charged 13 individuals in connection with the Novi Sad railway station collapse, but protesters insist that deeper accountability is needed.
As Serbia braces for further demonstrations, the government’s response in the coming weeks could be pivotal in shaping the country’s political landscape and addressing widespread demands for transparency and reform.
