Tensions escalated in central Belgrade on Tuesday evening as protesters gathered outside the University Rectorate building, following the entry of criminal police officers into the premises on orders from the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office.
A group of demonstrators, mobilized by student activists, confronted police units, including members of the Gendarmerie. At one point, clashes broke out, with some protesters throwing objects such as soil and metal pieces toward officers. Police intervened multiple times, detaining several individuals.
The area around Republic Square and Studentski Trg was heavily secured, while traffic disruptions were reported, including the suspension of several bus and trolleybus lines.
Authorities stated that more than 30 officers from the criminal police, accompanied by prosecutors, conducted a prolonged search of the Rectorate building. According to initial reports, items such as radio equipment, gas masks, pyrotechnics, and sprays were found inside, though the context and purpose of these items remain unclear.
The prosecution has ordered the seizure of surveillance footage and servers from the building to determine key details related to an ongoing investigation, including the movements of a deceased student whose case has raised serious public concern.
While officials frame the operation as part of a legal investigation, critics argue that the heavy police presence and the targeting of academic institutions risk further escalating tensions in an already polarized political climate. The incident adds to growing concerns about pressure on universities, civil society, and dissenting voices in Serbia.
