BELGRADE — Serbia is witnessing some of its most turbulent days in over a decade, as anger over corruption and government inaction has spilled into violent street clashes.
What began nine months ago as a largely student-led movement demanding accountability has now escalated into open confrontation between demonstrators and pro-government groups. The unrest was sparked last November after the collapse of Novi Sad’s railway station roof killed 16 people — a tragedy many Serbians blame on entrenched corruption and negligence.
On Thursday evening, anti-corruption protesters once again filled city squares across Serbia. In Novi Sad, demonstrators vandalized ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) offices, while in Belgrade, crowds massed outside government and army buildings before attempting to march toward SNS headquarters. Riot police blocked their path with teargas.
The violence follows Tuesday’s assault in Vrbas, when masked SNS supporters attacked protesters, setting off days of reprisals. Bottles, stones, and fireworks have since become weapons on both sides. Nearly 50 people were arrested Wednesday alone, and 30 riot officers were injured. By Thursday, the Interior Ministry reported at least five more officers wounded and 14 protesters detained.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic condemned the demonstrations, insisting they had shifted from peaceful dissent to “an attack on the state.” President Aleksandar Vucic, who has ruled for 13 years, has remained defiant. Visiting pro-government encampments overnight, he denied his supporters instigated the violence, accusing protesters of seeking to “attack those who think differently.”
Yet critics say the government bears responsibility. UN human rights experts recently warned of a “troubling pattern of repression” against activists, citing intimidation, excessive force, and arbitrary arrests. Protest leaders argue police have stood by as pro-government mobs struck demonstrators. “The authorities tried to provoke a civil war last night,” student organizers wrote on social media.
While mounting protests have already toppled the prime minister and his cabinet, Vucic’s grip endures through a reshuffled government. Calls for early elections are growing louder, but with both sides entrenched, Serbia’s political crisis appears far from resolution — and its streets remain a battleground.
