Students across Serbia have launched a coordinated action today dubbed “Total Blockade of Serbia,” urging citizens to join them in protest with the clear message: “You will not trample on us.” The movement is a response to violent police crackdowns during previous demonstrations.
The blockades began early this morning:
Novi Sad at 6:00 AM
Čačak at 6:30 AM
Belgrade, Niš, Kragujevac, and Novi Pazar at 7:00 AM
Protesters have also announced plans to disrupt more cities across Serbia throughout the day.
In response to mounting pressure, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić issued a statement urging students to end the blockades.
“Let’s not destroy Serbia,” Vučić said, claiming the state aims to protect freedom of assembly and expression.
He added:
“The state doesn’t want to intervene or use force, but it cannot and should not allow this kind of violence, because then it is no longer a state.”
The student-led protests, which have now engulfed multiple cities, began on Saturday. Their main demands include:
Snap elections
Release of arrested protesters
Removal of the pro-government student camp in Pionirski Park in Belgrade, dubbed by critics as a staged counter-movement.
Public frustration has been intensifying since November 1, 2024, when 16 people died in a tragic tent collapse at Novi Sad’s railway station. Protesters blame the incident on a corrupt and dysfunctional state system.
