Anti-corruption protests fluctuated the Serbian capital of Belgrade, while students led protesters with supporters of President Aleksandar Vucic and his political party, who demanded new elections.
Violent collisions between anti-governmental demonstrators and Serbian security forces have been intensified last week, whereby demonstrators set fire to an office building of the ruling party in Novi Sad.
“You will see the full determination of the Serbian State. We will use everything at our disposal to restore the law, peace and order,” said President Vucic in a speech to the nation on Saturday evening.
Serbia is startled by anti-corruption protests after construction tragedy
Protesters are in clouds of tear gas during anti-government protests in Belgrade on August 16. (Oliver Bunic/AFP via Getty images)
Tens of thousands of students have been marching and protesting since December and demand justice and accountability after the death of 16 people in the collapse of a train station in the Serbian city of Novi Sad. The canopy on the train station collapsed on November 1 after renovations led by two Chinese companies.
The government is accused of not implementing the requirements of students, including the release of all documentation with regard to the reconstruction of the train station. In his speech, Vucic said that justice should be served for anyone responsible for the 16 victims of the collapse of the Novi Sad Rail Station.
Critics have evoked the hard -handed reaction that is used against demonstrators. Alan Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, said in A message on X That he was worried about the rising violence.
Students and anti-government protesters illuminate the flashlights of their mobile phones during a protest, which has become a national movement for change after the fatal November 2024 Novi Sad Railway Station Dak Collapse, in Belgrade, Serbia, Serbia, Serbia, March 15. (Igor Pavicevic/Reuters.)
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“I call for calmness and respect for the right to peaceful meeting. Serbian authorities must maintain the standards of the Council of Europe. The rule of law and respect for human rights must prevail,” said Berset.
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“The country is not functioning and the situation is dangerously escalating. The only way out of the problem is to keep free and honest elections as quickly as possible.” Everything else will further destabilize the situation, which could have devastating consequences, “Ivanov added.
The government is accused of fulfilling one of the original student requirements, including the release of all documentation with regard to the reconstruction of the train station.
The Serbian riot police collision with anti-government protesters in Belgrade on 13 August. (Oliver Bunic/AFP via Getty images)
What originally started as spontaneous protests that expressed dissatisfaction with the failed reaction of the government to the railway catastrophe turned into a movement that opposes widespread corruption and erosion of the rule of law under Vucic.
One of the greatest protests in the history of Serbia took place on March 15, with nearly 350,000 people gathered on Slavijaplein in Central Belgrade.
The Serbia, President Aleksandar Vucic Vucic United Nations General Meeting at the UN headquarters in New York City in 2019. Vucic said he accidentally voted against Russia in a Ukrainian resolution because he was “probably tired”. (Reuters)
The then Prime Minister Milos Vucevic of Serbia announced his resignation in January in the midst of the national protests, making him the oldest government member.
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Ubovic said that the protests were originally aimed at influencing the institutions responsible for maintaining the rule of law and not directly against the ruling party. Because the government had not released civil servants for the tragedy or had released information about the collapse of the canopy, the demonstrators realized that it was time to demand elections.
