Clashes in Belgrade as student-led protests demand elections

Large crowds gathered in central Belgrade to challenge President Aleksandar Vucic’s rule and demand early elections, justice, and the rule of law. Protesters carried banners and wore T-shirts linked to a youth movement, and they accused the government of crime and corruption. The unrest follows earlier demonstrations that began after a train station tragedy in northern Serbia in November 2024 killed 16 people, with many blaming corruption-fueled negligence during renovation work involving Chinese companies. Anticorruption protests previously led Prime Minister Milos Vucevic to resign in January 2025, after which authorities moved to restrict the movement. On Saturday, state railways cancelled trains to and from Belgrade, and Vucic said protesters showed violent behavior and that the state would act according to law. Clashes occurred between protesters and riot police after an antigovernment rally.

"Large crowds of demonstrators poured into central Belgrade on Saturday, many carrying banners and wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the Students win motto of the youth movement that organised the gathering. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has sought to rein in mass demonstrations that have challenged his hardline rule in the Balkan country. The size of Saturday's turnout suggested that dissent remains strong more than a year after protests first began with demonstrators demanding accountability for a train station tragedy in northern Serbia in November 2024 that killed 16 people."

"Many in Serbia blamed the concrete canopy collapse at the station on alleged corruption-fuelled negligence during renovation work carried out with Chinese companies. On Saturday, Serbia's state railway company cancelled all trains to and from Belgrade in what appeared to be an effort to prevent at least some people from travelling to the capital from other parts of the country. In a video posted on Instagram on Saturday, the president said protesters have shown their violent nature and that they cannot stand political opponents."

"Students on Saturday demanded early elections and the rule of law, accusing the government of crime and corruption. They said they now plan to challenge Vucic in this year's elections, which they hope will unseat his right-wing populist government. Vucic said on Thursday that the parliamentary elections could be held between September and November. Clashes were first report"

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