Clashes and Tensions Erupt at “Serbia, Wake Up” Protests Nationwide
BELGRADE, Serbia – August 13, 2025 – Protests titled “Serbia, Wake Up” took place across the country tonight, marked by frequent confrontations between demonstrators and supporters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The protests were a direct response to recent incidents and police actions in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka. In several cities, police cordons were deployed to separate the two sides, while in Novi Sad, protesters were attacked with fireworks and flares.
Incidents and Police Response
The situation was particularly tense in Novi Sad, where protests turned violent. A reporter for the Beta news agency observed two young men with injuries in an ambulance. Protesters were reportedly attacked with fireworks and flares by SNS supporters, and masked men armed with sticks were also seen moving toward a group of students. Police eventually formed a cordon to separate the groups, but critics accused them of not acting against the attackers.
In New Belgrade, a column of protesters marching toward SNS offices was met with a police cordon. Following a brief chase, police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. An N1 reporter noted that a flare was thrown at the protesters by SNS activists who were positioned behind the police line.
Similar tensions were reported in other cities. In Kragujevac, a “battle of noise” took place, with protesters singing loudly while a smaller group of SNS supporters played patriotic music from speakers. Police blocked access to the SNS offices, preventing protesters from approaching. In Pančevo, protesters temporarily broke through a police cordon in an effort to reach the SNS headquarters.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić held an emergency address, stating that one police officer was injured in Novi Sad and that there were “mass attacks” on police and SNS members in several cities. He warned that the police would maintain public order and would press charges against anyone who violates the law.
Political Leaders React and Rally Supporters
The protests prompted a strong response from Serbia’s political leadership. President Aleksandar Vučić addressed a large crowd of SNS supporters gathered in tents near the National Assembly. He claimed he was “with the people who are protecting their own and not bothering anyone,” and alleged “terrible things” had happened in Novi Sad. President Vučić was joined by his brother, Andrej Vučić, at the gathering.
In his speech, President Vučić claimed that protesters numbered no more than 4,000 across the country, while many more of his supporters had mobilized to “defend their homes.”
Other government officials were more confrontational. SNS President Miloš Vučević accused the protesters of “pure violence and fascism” on Instagram, while Speaker of the Assembly Ana Brnabić claimed that the protesters were seeking to cause a “civil war.”
In contrast, writer Dejan Atanacković, speaking from a protest outside the Law Faculty in Belgrade, criticized the government, stating that “this regime is imposing chaos and madness on us.” He argued that “we no longer have a state, we have no institutions,” and that “the state must be rebuilt.”
