Shocking scenes of violence have emerged on social media from last night’s protests in several Serbian cities, where police used extreme force against peaceful demonstrators, beating them with rubber batons and kicking them, even when they were lying on the ground.
In the city of Valjevo, citizens responded to a student-led call to protest under the slogan “Tonight you explode from within.” However, what followed was a harsh and violent reaction from police forces, which, as seen in circulating videos, attacked citizens in a brutal and inhumane manner, reports Nova.
The streets of Valjevo were blocked by a double police cordon equipped with anti-riot gear, preventing citizens from passing. Protesters chanted against the government, the president, and police behavior. Tensions peaked when law enforcement began chasing and beating people, including those who were not part of the protest.
In one widely shared video, uniformed police officers assault a young man on Karadjordje Street, near a bakery, striking him repeatedly with batons and kicking him even after he was lying on the asphalt. The footage has caused widespread outrage, and according to unofficial information, the young man remains hospitalized due to sustained injuries.
Witnesses reported that police entered nearby venues, dragging people outside indiscriminately and beating them. In one case, around 20 police officers were seen physically attacking two young men who showed no signs of resistance.
The protests, held under the slogan “Tonight you explode from within”, were organized by students and took place across Serbia. Scenes of violence were also recorded in Belgrade, Novi Sad, and other cities. In the capital, police used tear gas, armored vehicles, and pyrotechnics to disperse crowds, while in Novi Sad, several ruling party (SNS) offices were damaged after clashes between citizens and law enforcement.
