Unrest in anti-administration demonstrations in Serbia, marked by acts of aggression
The latest chapter in the ongoing protests against President Aleksandar Vučić in Serbia has seen a significant escalation in violence and government crackdowns since mid-August 2025. Initially peaceful anti-corruption demonstrations, led by students, that began in November 2024 have expanded nationwide and are now marked by daily street clashes between protesters and police, targeting presidential party offices.
The protests, which have been ongoing for over nine months, were sparked by the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, resulting in 16 deaths. The tragedy was widely seen as a result of corrupt infrastructure projects and bureaucratic negligence, igniting widespread public outrage and demands for government resignation.
President Vučić has refused calls for early elections and threatened a harsh crackdown, including potentially declaring a state of emergency, accusing protesters of attempting to destroy the country. The key issues driving these protests include corruption and institutional failure, democratic backsliding under Vučić's regime, police brutality and provocations, and political repression and confrontations with ruling party supporters.
The latest protests were fueled by supporters of Vučić's SNS party attacking pro-government protesters in the northern Serbian villages of Vrbas and Backa Palanka the day before, with no police intervention. Scuffles occurred between protesters and Vučić's supporters, as well as police, in numerous cities. In the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, 64 civilians and five military police officers were injured during clashes.
President Vučić vowed to "clean up" Belgrade and Novi Sad to prevent a "civil war." He made the announcement of injuries at the headquarters of his SNS party. Vučić thanked his supporters for backing him against government opponents and praised the "wonderful ordinary people" who had protected the party headquarters from "crazy blockers." Protesters targeted SNS party headquarters, where they were met by police cordons and SNS supporters.
In Belgrade and Novi Sad, pro-government supporters threw fireworks at the opposition. No new injuries or clashes were reported in the latest protests, but police deployed tear gas in Belgrade and Novi Sad during the skirmishes on previous days.
Independent experts and opposition figures attribute the collapse of the train station canopy in Novi Sad to shoddy workmanship and corruption under Vučić's regime. The Tanjug news agency has reported on President Vučić's statements regarding the protesters, but not on the latest protests themselves. Protests against Vučić were organized in 30 locations for Wednesday. Clashes between protesters and counter-protesters, as well as security forces, took place at the headquarters of the SNS party in Novi Sad.
The protests represent a significant expression of public frustration against corruption, authoritarian governance, and police violence under Vučić, with recent clashes reflecting an intensification of conflict rather than resolution.
The ongoing protests against President Aleksandar Vučić in Serbia have been extensively covered in general news, with reports of war-and-conflicts, politics, and institutional failings. The latest chapter, marked by escalating violence and government crackdowns since mid-August 2025, is a critical point in the nine-month-long demonstrations, sparked by the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024. These demonstrations, polarizing the nation, have been featured in various war-and-conflicts, politics, and general news discussions.
