The American news agency Associated Press (AP) reported today that tensions in Serbia have risen since Saturday’s student-led protest. President Aleksandar Vučić is reportedly intensifying the government’s pressure in an effort to suppress demonstrations he describes as “terrorism and an attempt to overthrow the state.”
According to the AP, Serbian police last night and this morning detained 79 students and other protesters while breaking up street blockades in several cities. These blockades are part of persistent opposition to Vučić’s populist rule.
The agency states that riot police intervened late last night and early this morning in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and Novi Pazar. Authorities deny allegations of police brutality and excessive force against demonstrators.
Allegations of Police Brutality and Injuries
Students, who are behind the protests, stated that police injured many peaceful demonstrators. Witnesses told local media that police beat protesters with batons and shields, and that four students were hospitalized, including one with a broken collarbone, the report details.
The protest on Saturday demanded snap parliamentary elections. The gathering of tens of thousands of people in Belgrade concluded with clashes between police and groups of demonstrators, the AP noted.
Critics assert that Vučić has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago, suppressing democratic freedoms and allowing corruption and organized crime to flourish. Vučić denies these claims, the AP added.
The agency also highlighted that while Serbia formally aims to join the European Union, Vučić’s government continues to cultivate relations with Russia and China.
