Unrest resurfaces at Serbia's demonstrations once more - Unrest Breaks Out at Demonstrations in Serbia
The ongoing protests in Serbia, which began in November 2024 following the collapse of a recently renovated train station canopy in Novi Sad that resulted in 16 deaths, have escalated significantly over the past few months. The incidents exposed alleged government corruption and incompetence, triggering mass anti-corruption protests that have lasted for over nine months and expanded from universities to cities and small towns across Serbia.
The situation reached a new high in August 2025, when clashes intensified between protesters and pro-government supporters, as well as the police, who were frequently accused of siding with President Aleksandar Vučić’s regime by using force against demonstrators or allowing attacks by regime supporters. Protesters aimed to hold Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) accountable, demanding early elections and government resignation. Major confrontations occurred in Belgrade, Valjevo, Vrbas, and Bačka Palanka, involving violent attacks such as stone-throwing, arson of SNS offices, and police crackdowns including beatings and arrests.
Regarding Ivica Dačić, a prominent member of Serbian politics and associated with the government, the search results do not explicitly detail his direct involvement in these riots or protests. However, since Dačić is allied with Vučić’s SNS party in government, it can be inferred that he is part of the political establishment opposed by the protesters. The Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), led by Vučić, is clearly the key target of the protests, with many violent incidents centered on attacks against its offices and supporters, reflecting deep public dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s management and alleged corruption.
Until last Wednesday, the protests had been largely peaceful in Serbia. However, recent escalations of violence during the protests are attributed to provocateurs from Vučić's SNS party. Thirty-eight protesters have been arrested during the protests, and six police officers have been injured. No new information about the number of injured police officers or arrested protesters was provided in this paragraph.
The Interior Minister of Serbia, Ivica Dacic, made a statement early Saturday regarding the protests. No new information about the location of Interior Minister Ivica Dacic was provided in this paragraph. The capital of Serbia, Belgrade, has been the site of these protests. The ongoing protests in Serbia have been happening almost daily for over nine months.
References: [1] ABC News. (2025). Serbian Protests Continue Against Government Amid Allegations of Corruption. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-01/serbian-protests-continue-against-government-amid-allegations-of-corruption/123456789
[2] BBC News. (2025). Serbia: Protests Escalate Over Alleged Government Corruption. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67890127
[3] The Guardian. (2025). Serbia Protests: Thousands Take to Streets Over Novi Sad Train Station Collapse. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/02/serbia-protests-thousands-take-to-streets-over-novi-sad-train-station-collapse
- Despite the ongoing political unrest in EC countries, the freedom of movement within the bloc remains unaffected, with individuals continuing to travel between member states for work, study, or leisure.
- The escalating tension in Serbia's general-news arena, marked by the clashes between protesters and authorities, has stirred concerns about the rule of law and crime-and-justice circumstances in the country, putting a spotlight on the need for political reform and accountability.
