Serbia intensifies repression against students, who are keeping the government in check

BarcelonaThe center of Belgrade has been filled with barricades where students and opponents of the regime of Aleksandar Vučić, of the Serbian Progressive Party, have been sleeping since mass protests on SaturdayThe protesters, led by students, They consider the government illegitimate and are demanding that Vučić call early elections. Before Saturday's protests, which were particularly large, the students issued an ultimatum demanding that elections be called before 9 p.m. on Saturday, a demand the president rejected. Presidential elections are scheduled for 2027.

The protests began in November after the canopy of a renovated train station in the city of Novi Sad collapsed, killing 16 people and causing the resignation of the prime minister and the government reshuffle. This event catalyzed social unrest against a government they consider corrupt and pseudo-democratic. Saturday's demonstration again saw large crowds. According to an independent study by the Archive of Public Gatherings, 140,000 people participated, while the police put their figure at 36,000.

Unlike previous demonstrations, this Saturday saw violent clashes between protesters and police, who used batons and tear gas. Vučić, whose rhetoric has become increasingly harsh, accused the organizers of inciting violence and called them "terrorists," while denouncing a foreign plot to overthrow his government. According to Serbian police, 48 officers were injured and 22 protesters sought medical attention.

The situation has escalated as a result of the Serbian state apparatus' progressively increased repression of opponents. Following the demonstration, Interior Minister Ivica Dadic reported the arrest of 77 people, 38 of whom remained in custody on Sunday. Most of those detained face criminal charges. Furthermore, according to the Serbian High Court, five people had already been arrested on Friday on charges of plotting to overthrow the government, and another eight were arrested on Sunday on charges of planning roadblocks and attacks on state institutions.

The protesters' demands

The students are demanding reforms to ensure free and fair elections, such as review of electoral registers and equal access to the media, and accuse the government of widespread corruption. They are also calling for changes to the university system, such as guaranteeing fair salaries and respecting the autonomy of universities.

The protesters asserted that they would not give in and in a statement gave the green light to those participating in the protests to "take freedom into their own hands." They asserted that "the authorities had all the necessary mechanisms in place to prevent an escalation" and that "any radicalization of the situation is their responsibility."

However, The Serbian government does not give up its request for EU membership. This while maintaining relations with China and Russia, and has not joined the international sanctions regime against Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.