During anti-government protests in Serbia, violent clashes erupted between demonstrators, police, and supporters of President Aleksandar Vučić, Deutsche Welle reports.
The escalation follows incidents in Vojvodina on Tuesday, in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka, where SNS supporters allegedly physically attacked protesters while the police did not intervene. In response, protests were organized in 30 towns, with marches directed toward SNS party offices, where demonstrators were met by police cordons and party supporters.
Major Incidents in Novi Sad and Belgrade
The most intense clashes occurred in Novi Sad and Belgrade, while other cities such as Niš, Pančevo, Kruševac, Čačak, Kragujevac, Smederevo, Užice, and Lazarevac saw relatively peaceful demonstrations.
In both Novi Sad and Belgrade, SNS supporters threw pyrotechnics at demonstrators, who partly retaliated. In Novi Sad, the police used tear gas, and during the night, some SNS offices were set on fire. In Belgrade, riot police blocked access to areas near the parliament park, where Vučić’s supporters have been camping since March.
Vučić’s Response: “Belgrade and Novi Sad Will Be Cleared”
At a late-night press conference, Vučić reported 16 police officers and 64 SNS supporters injured in Novi Sad alone. He described the demonstrators as “robbers and killers” and vowed that Belgrade and Novi Sad would be “cleaned” of them, aiming to prevent a civil war.
Vučić thanked his supporters, calling them “ordinary, wonderful people” for protecting party offices from “crazy blockers,” and accused unidentified foreign forces of organizing the unrest, promising arrests.
Opposition Reaction
The opposition movement “Kreni-Promeni” blamed Vučić’s supporters for the clashes, stating that attacks with pyrotechnics violate people’s right to life and protest.
Background of the Protests
These protests have lasted over nine months and were triggered by the collapse of a recently renovated roof at the Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people. Independent experts and opposition politicians attribute the tragedy to negligence and systemic corruption in Vučić’s administration. Demonstrators accuse the government of corruption and authoritarianism, demanding Vučić’s resignation and new elections.
