Thousands of students and citizens from all over Serbia gathered on Sunday in “Slavija” Square in Belgrade in the “Students win” protest, demanding the announcement of extraordinary parliamentary elections, honest governance and the fight against corruption.
The rally was accompanied by tensions and clashes with the police, which ended with arrests and injuries.
Protesters gathered under slogans such as “The choice is ours” and “Either Serbia, or the mafia”, expressing deep dissatisfaction with the political situation in the country. The students presented part of their political program, emphasizing the demands for freedom, justice and a dignified life.
“We continue to fight for the same demands as during the past months. The student protests continue and we remain united”. said the student representatives.
The citizens present expressed their hope for a “normal and democratic Serbia, based on the rule of law and integration into the European community”.
Many of them linked the widespread corruption to the 14 years of the government of President Aleksandar Vucic. After the rally ended, the situation escalated into incidents and clashes with police forces.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Ivica Dacic, stated that the police intervened after being attacked and accused “provocateurs” of deliberate attempts to create chaos. According to him, 47 people were arrested and 17 police officers were injured.
On the other hand, the opposition and students accused the government of organizing provocations with the aim of compromising the protest. They reported that dozens of people were beaten and arrested, some of them with serious injuries.
This protest is considered one of the largest at the beginning of this year and a continuation of the student and citizen movement that started after the tragedy in Novi Sad at the end of 2024, which turned into a wide wave of protests against the government of President Aleksandar Vucic.
