Crowd-led demonstrations against the Serbian administration intensify once more
Violent Protests Continue to Rock Serbia Against President Vucic
Over nine months, mass protests have been taking place almost daily in Serbia, challenging the regime of President Aleksandar Vucic. The latest wave of protests was sparked by the collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, which resulted in 16 deaths, and is widely seen as a symbol of systemic corruption and government negligence under Vucic's rule.
Timeline and Escalation
The Novi Sad railway station disaster occurred less than five months after a reconstruction reopening. Since then, students have led protests against Vucic’s regime, with initial peaceful demonstrations met with violence when Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) supporters attacked students, escalating tensions.
Violent clashes erupted in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka on August 12, 2025, when pro-government supporters assaulted demonstrators, with police largely passive initially. This triggered widespread nightly confrontations across Serbian cities, including Belgrade, involving police deploying tear gas and armored vehicles against protesters.
Causes of the Protests
The immediate cause was the Novi Sad railway station collapse, seen as emblematic of systemic corruption and government negligence under Vucic. Broader dissatisfaction with Vucic’s rule, characterized by democratic backsliding, authoritarian tendencies, and repression of opposition, has also contributed to the protests.
The escalation has been due to police brutality, violent attacks by regime loyalists on peaceful protestors, perceived lack of police protection for demonstrators, and government accusations framing protests as foreign-orchestrated “color revolutions.”
Recent Incidents
Continued nightly clashes between protesters and police deploying tear gas and armored vehicles in Belgrade and other cities have been reported. Pro-government supporters have been attacking peaceful demonstrations, with stone-throwing, fireworks, and physical attacks witnessed.
In smaller towns, police brutality and attacks on protesters, including minors, have been reported. Masked groups allegedly aligned with authorities have engaged in looting and violence. This has led some protesters to retaliate with vandalism and arson, including setting fire to SNS party offices.
Latest Developments
In Belgrade, SNS supporters threw fireworks at opposition protesters, while in Novi Sad, protesters smashed the windows of two offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), broke into the buildings, and removed items. No police were present during the attack on the SNS buildings in Novi Sad, according to the Belgrade news agency Tanjug.
Vucic stated that there would be more arrests and criticized the police for not intervening more harshly against protesters in Novi Sad. According to Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, five police officers were injured and 14 protesters were arrested during the protests.
The protesters are demanding Vucic's resignation and new elections, and are critical of the Vucic government as corrupt and authoritarian. The latest protests were fueled by SNS supporters' fatal attacks on government-critical protesters in the northern Serbian villages of Vrbas and Bačka Palanka, with no police intervention.
