Violence and clashes at student protest in Belgrade

Police fired tear gas at protesters who gathered in front of a police cordon near the Serbian Presidency on Saturday evening, at the end of a protest organized by students.

Earlier in the day, two protests were organized: one by students who have been blocking state-level universities since the end of 2024 and are demanding early elections, and the other by those who declare their support for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

After the student protest held on Slavija Square was officially declared over, a group of masked men clashed with police in the Serbian capital.

They were seen throwing bottles and other objects at police officers.

There are many police officers present in the protest area, including gendarmerie units.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic has strongly condemned "the attacks by participants in the march on Slavija Square against members of the Interior Ministry."

He said that he will take all measures to restore public order and that all those who attacked the police will be prosecuted.

Vučić himself released a video - before the violence erupted - from Pioneers Park, where pro-him students gathered, saying that "the blockers lost."

"Students won, blockers lost. Proud of these young people," the Serbian president wrote on Instagram.

According to him, there were three times fewer people at Saturday's protest than on March 15, when a massive protest was held.

According to Vučić, students will return to universities and he thanked those who oppose the blockades.

The students hold institutions responsible for the collapse of a shelter at the Novi Sad railway station in November last year, which resulted in the deaths of 16 people, and are therefore demanding that the Government send President Vučić a proposal to dissolve parliament and call new elections.

The second demand is the cessation of the gathering of government supporters, who declare that they want to learn. They have given the authorities an ultimatum until 9:00 PM on Saturday to meet their demands.

However, Vučić said on June 27 that "the ultimatum was not accepted."

A few days ago, authorities arrested six people for preparing to “violently overthrow the constitutional order.” Authorities accuse the protest organizers of “preparing for violence.”

The students, on the other hand, have stated that with their actions so far they have shown that they are against any form of violence./ REL