Dozens detained as anti-government protesters conflict with riot police in Serbia

Dozens of anti-government protesters have been detained throughout clashes with riot police in Serbia’s capital on Saturday throughout an enormous rally towards populist President Aleksandar Vucic demanding an early parliamentary election.

The protest by tens of hundreds of demonstrators was held after almost eight months of persistent dissent led by Serbia’s college college students which have rattled Vucic’s agency grip on energy within the Balkan nation.

The large crowd chanted: “We wish elections!” as they crammed the capital’s central Slavija Sq. and several other blocks round it, with many unable to achieve the venue.

DOZENS OF DETAINED PROTESTERS HANDCUFFED

Police handcuffed and detained protesters, and an officer was seen injured on the bottom throughout road battles in central Belgrade that lasted a number of hours. Six law enforcement officials and an unknown variety of residents have been injured, police stated.

“Serbia all the time wins in the long run,” President Vucic stated in an Instagram publish.

Vucic, a former excessive nationalist, has change into more and more authoritarian since coming to energy greater than a decade in the past. Although he formally says he needs Serbia to affix the European Union, critics say Vucic has stifled democratic freedoms as he strengthened ties with Russia and China.

Because the protest formally ended, the demonstrators threw eggs, plastic bottles and different objects at riot police who have been stopping the group from approaching a downtown park. On the park, a whole lot of Vucic’s loyalists have been tenting for months to type a human defend in entrance of his headquarters within the capital.

Serbia’s Inside Minister Ivica Dacic stated contributors within the protest attacked the police. He stated police used their powers to revive public order and “arrest all those that attacked the police.”

Police later stated dozens of “hooligans” have been detained however didn’t present the precise quantity.

Some demonstrators wore scarfs and masks over their faces as they clashed with regulation enforcement, utilizing rubbish cans as safety towards baton wielding police. Police used pepper spray earlier than pushing protesters with their shields.

Tensions have been excessive earlier than and in the course of the gathering as riot police deployed round authorities buildings.

“Elections are a transparent method out of the social disaster attributable to the deeds of the federal government, which is undoubtedly towards the pursuits of their very own individuals,” stated a pupil who didn’t give her title whereas addressing the group from a stage. “At present, on June 28, 2025, we declare the present authorities illegitimate.”

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PLAYING KEY ROLE

On the finish of the official a part of the rally, college students advised the group to “take freedom into your personal arms.”

College college students have been a key drive behind nationwide anti-corruption demonstrations that began after a renovated rail station cover collapsed, killing 16 individuals on Nov. 1.

Many blamed the concrete roof crash on rampant authorities corruption and negligence in state infrastructure tasks, resulting in recurring mass protests.

“We’re right here at this time as a result of we can not take it any extra,” pupil Darko Kovacevic stated. “This has been occurring for too lengthy. We’re mired in corruption.”

Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Celebration have repeatedly refused the demand for an early vote and accused protesters of planning to spur violence on orders from overseas, which they didn’t specify or present proof of.

Vucic’s authorities have launched a crackdown on Serbia’s hanging universities and different opponents, whereas rising strain on impartial media as they tried to curb the demonstrations.

Whereas numbers have shrunk in current weeks, the large exhibiting for Saturday’s anti-Vucic rally recommended that the resolve persists, regardless of relentless strain and after almost eight months of virtually day by day protests.

– Ends