For the fifth consecutive night, Serbia has been shaken by anti-government protests, marked by violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police.
According to BBC reports, offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) were set on fire in several cities, while in Valjevo, riot police used tear gas and stun grenades after masked protesters attacked empty SNS premises.
Claims of Police Brutality
Protesters and rights groups have accused security forces of excessive violence and arbitrary arrests in Belgrade and Novi Sad, while Serbia’s Ministry of Interior denied all claims of brutality.
On social media, an unverified video allegedly showing police beating a man in Valjevo went viral, fueling public anger.
Russia’s Response
The unrest has drawn attention from abroad. Russia vowed support for President Aleksandar Vučić, calling him a “Moscow-friendly leader in a difficult situation,” and warning it would not “remain passive.”
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Serbian police were using “legitimate measures” to control what it called “violent mobs” threatening public order.
Roots of the Protests
The demonstrations were initially sparked by the collapse of a railway station in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 16 people. Many Serbians blamed the disaster on corruption and austerity policies under Vučić’s government.
What began as anti-corruption protests quickly escalated into mass demonstrations demanding early elections and an end to Vučić’s 12-year rule.
At their peak, the protests drew hundreds of thousands to the streets, making them the largest wave of demonstrations in Serbia in over a decade.
International Concerns
Michael O’Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern over the “disproportionate use of force” and called on Serbian authorities to de-escalate and halt arbitrary detentions.
Meanwhile, Vučić dismissed the unrest as a foreign-backed conspiracy, refusing to call early elections. In a statement on Instagram, he described the violence as a “sign of weakness”, vowing that “all perpetrators will be punished.”
