BELGRADE, Serbia — In a troubling incident on Friday, a woman drove her car into a group of anti-government demonstrators in the capital, leading to injuries for at least one individual, according to police reports. This event coincided with a nationwide student-led strike that resulted in the closure of numerous businesses and attracted tens of thousands to protests across Serbia.
The protests unfolded on the same day that President Aleksandar Vucic held a substantial rally in Jagodina, a key stronghold for his coalition, aiming to counteract the ongoing demonstrations that have persisted for nearly three months. During his address, Vucic claimed that Serbia has faced attacks from both external and internal forces due to the anti-government protests.
“It is no coincidence that Serbia has been targeted from abroad,” he stated, highlighting the country’s ties with both Russia and China, and its decision not to impose sanctions against Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Vucic urged his supporters not to let these pressures weaken their resolve, declaring, “That is what they want to crush, but we must not allow it. That is our strength.”
While the protests have drawn significant support from various segments of society, including students, many have turned down the option to engage in negotiations with the president. The demonstrators have consistently blocked traffic in the capital as part of their demands for accountability concerning the deaths of 15 people in the collapse of a train station canopy, which critics attribute to government corruption.
In a separate development, Belgrade police reported the detention of a 24-year-old woman who drove into a crowd of protesters in New Belgrade. The injured protester, a 26-year-old female, was hospitalized but her condition was considered stable. This incident followed a similar occurrence the previous week, where a vehicle rammed into students during a blockade, causing serious injury to one young woman.
Public sentiment across Serbia suggests that the significant concrete canopy collapse at the Novi Sad train station was a result of poor reconstruction efforts, likely stemming from corruption. The ongoing protests have been the most substantial since Vucic took office over a decade ago, amid persistent allegations regarding his suppression of democratic freedoms despite Serbia’s aspirations for European Union membership.
On Friday, it was challenging to determine the overall participation in the students’ one-day strike, which included a variety of establishments like restaurants, shops, and cultural venues. In their rallying cry, students encouraged citizens to “take freedom into our hands.”
At the rally in Jagodina, Vucic proclaimed the formation of a new nationwide political movement, akin to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party, intended to reinforce the dominance of his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party. “Everyone is welcome to the movement of big change and future,” Vucic invited, emphasizing the inclusion of individuals not representing any political party.
Amid the protests, Vucic and pro-government media have accused the students of being manipulated by foreign intelligence agencies aiming to destabilize the government, while protesters have reported numerous incidents of violence by pro-government supporters.
The day’s protests included symbolic 15-minute traffic blockades initiated at 11:52 a.m., marking the exact time the fatal canopy collapsed in Novi Sad. For over two months, Serbian universities and many schools have seen shutdowns, with a lawyers’ association also participating in the strike, although the extent of attendance across public institutions remained unclear.
Protest marches throughout the day occurred in Belgrade, Novi Sad, the southern city of Nis, and smaller towns, even in Jagodina before Vucic’s arrival. Actor Goran Susljik remarked in an interview, “Things can’t stay the same anymore. Students have offered us the possibility of change.”
In an ongoing investigation related to the canopy collapse, prosecutors have brought charges against 13 individuals, including a government minister and other state officials. However, skepticism regarding the investigation’s integrity has risen, particularly after the release of former construction minister Goran Vesic from detention.
The main railway station in Novi Sad has undergone two renovations in recent years as part of a broader infrastructure partnership with Chinese state companies.
