A minimum of 100,000 individuals gathered in Belgrade for a significant demonstration, marking the climax of extended protests against Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic and his administration.
Enormous groups of protestors, waving flags, filled the city center on Saturday, struggling to move amidst intermittent rain.
After some scattered incidents between the protestors and the police, university students – who have spearheaded the peaceful demonstrations over the past four months – abruptly concluded the protest, citing the inability to ensure safety for participants.
The majority of the protestors scattered, yet thousands remained on the streets as tensions escalated.
According to the police, the protest secured a maximum attendance of 107,000 individuals. Serbian independent media termed the rally as the largest in the nation’s history, suggesting the numbers were significantly higher, noting the cancellation of all public transport in Belgrade as protestors flooded the city from various locations.
The demonstration was a component of a nationwide anti-corruption movement sparked by the collapse of a concrete canopy at a train station in Serbia’s north in November, claiming 15 lives.
Near daily demonstrations initiated in response to the tragedy have profoundly challenged Vucic’s control over Serbia, unparalleled during his 13-year tenure. Many Serbians attributed the incident to government corruption, negligence, and ignorance of construction safety norms, calling for accountability and justice for the victims.
Prior to the demonstration, Vucic persistently warned of plans for public disorder while threatening arrests and severe penalties for any disturbances.
Reports from neighboring Croatia and Slovenia were denied entry into Serbia, with the justification that their presence at the rally “poses a security threat”.
Vucic has turned down previous offers for a transitional government to organize an early election. He alleges that Western intelligence services are behind the nearly daily student-led protests, intending to oust him from power, yet has failed to provide evidence for these allegations.
Enormous groups of protestors, waving flags, filled the city center on Saturday, struggling to move amidst intermittent rain.
After some scattered incidents between the protestors and the police, university students – who have spearheaded the peaceful demonstrations over the past four months – abruptly concluded the protest, citing the inability to ensure safety for participants.
The majority of the protestors scattered, yet thousands remained on the streets as tensions escalated.
According to the police, the protest secured a maximum attendance of 107,000 individuals. Serbian independent media termed the rally as the largest in the nation’s history, suggesting the numbers were significantly higher, noting the cancellation of all public transport in Belgrade as protestors flooded the city from various locations.
The demonstration was a component of a nationwide anti-corruption movement sparked by the collapse of a concrete canopy at a train station in Serbia’s north in November, claiming 15 lives.
Near daily demonstrations initiated in response to the tragedy have profoundly challenged Vucic’s control over Serbia, unparalleled during his 13-year tenure. Many Serbians attributed the incident to government corruption, negligence, and ignorance of construction safety norms, calling for accountability and justice for the victims.
Prior to the demonstration, Vucic persistently warned of plans for public disorder while threatening arrests and severe penalties for any disturbances.
Reports from neighboring Croatia and Slovenia were denied entry into Serbia, with the justification that their presence at the rally “poses a security threat”.
Vucic has turned down previous offers for a transitional government to organize an early election. He alleges that Western intelligence services are behind the nearly daily student-led protests, intending to oust him from power, yet has failed to provide evidence for these allegations.
