Citizens and students protesting in support of Dijana Hrka and transporter Milomir Jaćimović faced brutal force by the Serbian Gendarmerie in Novi Sad, sparking national outrage over police brutality under the leadership of President Aleksandar Vučić.
Dijana Hrka, whose son Stefan Hrka died in the collapse of a railway station canopy, has been on a 16-day hunger strike demanding justice, while Milomir Jaćimović continues an 8-day hunger strike over the return of seized buses and annulment of multi-million fines. Despite their peaceful protest, police used physical force against demonstrators, with footage showing a gendarme hitting a young woman in the head and pulling her hair while assaulting bystanders who tried to intervene.
Journalists covering the events were also pushed and obstructed, raising concerns about freedom of the press in Serbia. Evroposlanica Irena Joveva visited Hrka at her protest site to show support, highlighting the international concern over Serbia’s handling of citizen protests.
Milomir Jaćimović’s bus was forcibly removed by police despite being returned after a legal dispute, prompting his minor son to resume a hunger strike in protest. Students and citizens blocked streets and observed 16 minutes of silence in memory of Anja Radonjić, a young woman who died in the same railway station accident a year ago.
In addition, students reported targeted cyberattacks on their social media accounts, aiming to silence their organizing efforts. Despite these attempts, they successfully restored their Instagram and TikTok profiles, demonstrating the resilience of civic activism in Serbia.
These events underscore the heavy-handed approach of Vučić’s administration, where peaceful protests are met with force and intimidation, while citizens seeking justice face systemic obstacles. Experts argue that this reflects a wider pattern of government repression and raises serious concerns about human rights and democracy in Serbia.
