Exactly one year has passed since students and professors of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU) in Belgrade were brutally attacked by an organized group of men, many of whom were later confirmed to be members and local councillors of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
The attack took place on 22 November 2024, while students stood silently in the street to honor the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy. Since then, students say, nothing in Serbia has remained the same — not because justice was served, but because the regime’s impunity was laid bare for all to see.
Today, students are marking the first anniversary of that attack with a large protest, insisting that the fight is far from over.
“Everything is the same, and nothing is the same”
Speaking to Nova.rs, FDU students say Serbia has changed because citizens have mobilized — yet everything remains the same, as not a single attacker has been properly held accountable.
They emphasize that today’s protest is a reminder to the public — and to the ruling authorities — that the events of 22 November have not been forgotten, nor forgiven.
Protest Route: Walking Past Institutions That Failed Them
The protest, starting at 11:30 in front of the FDU building in New Belgrade, will move through key state institutions which, students say, have spent an entire year refusing to do their job.
The march includes stops at:
- New Belgrade Municipality
- Savski Trg
- The Palace of Justice
- Mostar Junction
- Radio Television of Serbia (RTS)
“A year after the attack, no one has been held responsible. We will walk past every institution that should have acted and chose not to,” students said.
They expect a large turnout, noting that the attack sparked a broader, nationwide struggle against injustice and political violence.
“People forget why this began — and the regime counts on that”
Students stress that public memory is fading, partly because the regime has ensured a scandalous legal epilogue:
Two attackers had their charges dismissed, while three others received mild suspended sentences — despite clear video evidence and numerous witnesses.
They warn that the normalization of such violence has already led to even more extreme attacks on unarmed citizens, including cases of people being run over by vehicles on the streets during protests, for which again no one was held accountable.
“We were just the initial spark. The real issue is the growing brutality enabled and protected by state institutions,” one student said.
What Happened on 22 November 2024
On that day, during a peaceful memorial for victims of the Novi Sad station tragedy, a group of 5–6 men suddenly rushed the crowd, physically assaulting students — particularly young women.
Student Nikola Terzić described receiving multiple blows to the head and body, while trying to shield his colleague.
Crucially, police officers stationed nearby did not intervene, even as students called for help — a pattern that has become increasingly common under the Vučić government.
Some students have stated that police only reacted after members of the N1 news crew directly appealed to them, highlighting the systemic, deliberate unresponsiveness of law enforcement when the aggressors are linked to the regime.
The attack triggered faculty blockades across Serbia, joined by dozens of university communities and artistic institutions.
A Systemic Problem Under the Vučić Regime
The anniversary protest is not only about one attack. Students underline that the violence against them is part of a broader, systemic pattern of intimidation, political pressure, and institutional paralysis under Aleksandar Vučić’s rule.
They argue that:
- Police routinely fail to protect citizens, especially when perpetrators are linked to the ruling party.
- The justice system serves political interests, not the law.
- Independent media and public gatherings face increasing hostility, often accompanied by orchestrated provocations and police passivity.
- Government-controlled media trivialize or justify violence, enabling further attacks.
Students say they will continue finding new ways to resist, even as hope in state institutions fades.
Protests in Niš and Other Cities
Students in Niš will also hold a protest today, marking one year since the Belgrade attack that sparked mass blockades across all state universities in Serbia.
They will gather in front of the Basic Court at 16:00, marching past the headquarters of the SNS, where a student address is expected.
