A large anti-government protest is expected to take place today in Belgrade, while authorities are trying to prevent it in various ways, accusing student organizers of being part of a plot to provoke civil war and overthrow President Aleksandar Vučić.
Media reports today state that trains and buses to Belgrade have been canceled. The state railway company announced that intercity trains will not operate due to a reported bomb threat on the railway infrastructure, while many transport companies have canceled departures to the capital for the weekend. Additionally, the public company “Putevi Srbije” has announced roadworks and the possibility of delays on certain highway sections leading to Belgrade.
Opposition parties warn that Serbian institutions have been hijacked and are openly serving the regime, including intelligence services, traffic police, public television, and leaders of public transport companies.
A large number of citizens have contacted media outlets, expressing concerns about how they will get to Belgrade for the protest, given that nearly all forms of public transport have been either canceled or severely restricted.
In addition to transport issues, citizens on social media are drawing attention to unusual phenomena in the city’s neighborhoods. There have been reports of concrete blocks and sacks filled with stones placed in various parts of the city, raising suspicions that authorities are trying to create an atmosphere of fear and potential unrest. Images circulating online show police have also noticed these objects and confirmed that citizens have widely reported their presence, writes Telegraf.
Furthermore, in the center of Belgrade, in front of the Serbian Parliament, dozens of tractors have been spotted, many of which have no license plates. It is still unclear who brought them and what their purpose is, but many others speculate that authorities are attempting to intimidate citizens and demoralize those planning to participate in the protest.
On the other hand, more and more transporters are speaking openly about the pressures they are facing. Some drivers have been called for informational talks at the police, and unofficial information suggests that authorities have pressured transport companies to cancel their routes to Belgrade. However, some bus companies have decided to continue operating and transport passengers to the protest.
Despite all the obstacles, the protest organizers remain determined. Students, who are one of the main drivers of the protest, insist on their demands, including the publication of documents related to the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station, where the collapse of a shelter led to the deaths of 15 people.
Citizens planning to participate in the protest are facing a range of obstacles, but more and more of them are showing they will not give up. The atmosphere in Belgrade is tense, and it remains to be seen how the authorities will react tomorrow when a large number of people are expected on the streets of the Serbian capital.
