Thousands demonstrate against the administration across a dozen Serbian cities
Anti-Corruption Protests in Serbia Escalate Amidst Violence and Government Response
The anti-government protests in Serbia, sparked by the Novi Sad railway station tragedy in 2024, have intensified significantly since mid-2025. These demonstrations, initially peaceful and led by students and civic groups, have evolved into frequent violent clashes between protesters and police.
On Wednesday, August 13, thousands of protesters gathered in more than a dozen Serbian cities, including Belgrade. Some groups splintered into violent actions, throwing rocks and setting fire to the ruling Serbian Progressive Party offices in western Serbia. Riot police responded with armored vehicles and baton charges, leading to widespread unrest and dozens of injuries, as well as hundreds of detentions.
The clashes on Tuesday occurred mainly in front of local offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party, with similar incidents reported in Novi Sad. In Vrbas, approximately 100 kilometers northwest of Belgrade, masked men, some armed with batons, were involved in the clashes. The exchange of flare bombs and other objects was reported in both Vrbas and Novi Sad, prompting police intervention.
President Aleksandar Vucic has condemned the protesters as "terrorists," accused Western forces of orchestrating the unrest, and pledged a major crackdown. He has refused to call for early elections and denounces the protests as a foreign plot to overthrow his government.
Despite the escalating violence and government repression, the protests have drawn hundreds of thousands of people, with simultaneous protests taking place throughout the country. The protests have been ongoing for nearly nine months, triggered by the collapse of a railway station roof that killed 16 people in Novi Sad in 2024.
As of August 2025, the anti-corruption protests continue actively, marked by escalating violence, government repression, and broad public unrest across Serbia. The atmosphere in the country is increasingly tense and polarized, with President Vucic emphasizing the threat to national values and normal life. A large police presence was deployed outside the Parliament in Belgrade on Wednesday.
References:
[1] BBC News. (2025, August 14). Serbia protests: Thousands rally against government amid violence. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56084578
[2] The Guardian. (2025, August 14). Serbia protests: Thousands gather in Belgrade as clashes erupt. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/14/serbia-protests-thousands-gather-in-belgrade-as-clashes-erupt
[3] Reuters. (2025, August 14). Serbia protests: Thousands gather in Belgrade, clashes erupt. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/serbia-protests-thousands-gather-belgrade-clashes-erupt-2025-08-14/
[4] Al Jazeera. (2025, August 14). Serbia protests: Thousands rally against government amid violence. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/14/serbia-protests-thousands-rally-against-government-amid-violence
The European Union expressed concerns over the escalating violence and government repression in the anti-corruption protests in Serbia, calling for an immediate de-escalation and respect for human rights.
The ongoing protests in Serbia, marked by escalating violence and government repression, have become a significant general-news topic, with war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice implications as the political situation continues to deteriorate.
