Serbia is witnessing heightened political tension as Serbian police dismantled protest barricades in Belgrade and detained several demonstrators. The clampdown followed continued public outrage over a wave of arrests targeting anti-government protesters, many of whom are demanding early parliamentary elections.
The protests, centered in Serbia’s capital, erupted after a tragic train station canopy collapse in November that killed 16 people. Many in the country blame the incident on widespread corruption and negligence in the country’s infrastructure projects.
In the Zemun district of Belgrade, the country’s authorities removed metal fences and garbage containers that were used to block roads. Protesters, in response, raised their hands and chanted slogans against the government, accusing it of suppressing dissent. Demonstrators also shifted tactics by repeatedly crossing a pedestrian walkway to disrupt traffic, continuing their resistance across various parts of the country
Serbia: Protesters block streets in Belgrade demanding early elections and the release of arrested students.
The Serbian police issued a statement confirming multiple arrests but withheld specific numbers. Social media footage showed police vehicles speeding through a protest barricade, causing panic among the crowd. Despite the chaos, the country’s leadership defended the police actions. Speaking from Spain, officials in the country assured the public that “the country is strong enough to maintain law and order.”
Over the weekend, tens of thousands of Serbian citizens, led by student groups, gathered in Belgrade demanding snap elections to replace President Aleksandar Vučić’s right-wing administration. The government, however, has refused to move the elections forward from their scheduled 2027 date.
