Belgrade, Serbia is set to become the focal point of a massive protest as students and other critics of President Aleksandar Vucic prepare for a significant weekend rally. These protests follow months of student-led demonstrations demanding major reforms in the country. The gathering on Saturday is being viewed by many as a critical turning point in challenging the authority of the Serbian president.
The build-up to this event has seen protesters arriving in Belgrade from across Serbia. However, President Vucic has issued warnings about potential violence and has threatened mass arrests should the situation escalate. He declared firmly that he would only relinquish power if “they kill me.”
Student-led protests have been largely peaceful, despite sporadic disturbances instigated by Vucic’s supporters. Recently, the president’s followers have converged in Belgrade ahead of the anticipated protest, setting up tents in a park near the presidential palace, effectively forming a defensive barrier around Vucic.
Among these supporters, some pro-Vucic students claim they wish to return to their studies, disrupted by the widespread protests. However, the group also includes members of a notorious paramilitary unit implicated in Balkan wars and infamous figures from Serbia’s criminal underworld, in addition to soccer hooligans who frequently back Vucic at rallies.
The continuing unrest was ignited by a tragic collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad on November 1st, resulting in 15 fatalities. The disaster highlighted issues of governmental failure, corruption, and shady dealings with Chinese construction companies responsible for the station’s renovation.
Initially, the protests sought accountability for the Novi Sad incident, but they quickly morphed into a broader movement campaigning for democratic reforms. The cause has garnered widespread support across Serbian society.
President Vucic responded by reshuffling his government, with the prime minister resigning in December, and proposed educational reforms and legal action against those linked to the railway collapse. However, he has also dismissed the protests as a Western conspiracy to dethrone him and solicited support from Russian President Vladimir Putin while clamping down on liberal groups.
The organizers of the Belgrade rally have shared plans for an open-ended demonstration, suggesting future protests if their demands are not met. Their movement, they insist, is a step toward major change, not merely a final stand.
Similar protests have taken place in other cities such as Novi Sad, Kragujevac, and Nis, attracting tens of thousands of participants and maintaining significant momentum. As anticipation builds, thousands are expected to descend on the capital by Saturday, joined by students traveling by foot and bicycle.
The citizens of Belgrade, a city with a population of two million, are expected to participate in great numbers, demonstrating their continuous support for student-led protests despite the president’s opposition efforts. This upcoming gathering could rank as one of the largest demonstrations in Serbia’s history of anti-government protests.
