Clashes Erupt at Anti-Government Protests in Serbia, Dozens Injured

BELGRADE, SERBIA – Tensions have escalated in Serbia as long-standing anti-government protests turned violent, resulting in dozens of injuries. Clashes broke out on Tuesday evening between demonstrators and supporters of the government, marking a significant escalation after over nine months of persistent demonstrations against populist President Aleksandar Vučić.

The initial and most intense skirmishes were reported in the town of Vrbas, northwest of the capital, Belgrade. Riot police were deployed to separate the opposing groups outside the offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Eyewitness accounts and video footage from the scene show government supporters throwing flares, rocks, and bottles at the anti-government protesters, who retaliated by throwing objects back.

Police have confirmed that dozens of people were injured in the clashes, including 16 police officers. Several individuals have been detained. Similar, though less intense, incidents were also reported in other parts of the country, including Bačka Palanka, Novi Sad, and Niš. In Belgrade, riot police intervened to push back protesters who had gathered in the city center.

The wave of student-led protests began in November 2024 following the tragic collapse of a train station canopy in the northern city of Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. The incident sparked widespread public anger and accusations of systemic corruption and negligence in state-funded infrastructure projects.

Since then, the protests have grown, drawing hundreds of thousands of people and evolving into a broader movement against President Vučić's government. Protesters accuse Vučić, who has been in power for 13 years, of stifling democratic freedoms and fostering a climate of corruption.

Escalating Tensions and Demands

The recent violence follows a new strategy by President Vučić's supporters to organize counter-demonstrations, a move that has fueled fears of violent confrontations. The government and pro-government media have repeatedly labeled the protesters as "terrorists," despite the largely peaceful nature of the demonstrations over the past several months. Protesters maintain that they were attacked first by government supporters.

The core demands of the protesters, led by university students, include a call for an early parliamentary election, which President Vučić has so far refused. They are also demanding the resignation of Interior Minister Ivica Dacic over the recent violence at demonstrations.

Serbia is currently a candidate for European Union membership, but under Vučić's leadership, the nation has also maintained strong ties with Russia and China. The ongoing political instability and the government's handling of the protests are being closely watched by international observers.