
Serbian police clashed with anti-government protesters Saturday evening, demanding early elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic's 12-year rule. Government buildings were surrounded by police, while crowds of pro-Vucic supporters gathered at the protest.
After the protest ended around 10:00 PM, some protesters seeking to confront Vu?i?'s supporters threw flares at the police, who used tear gas to disperse them in front of a police cordon near the Serbian Presidency.
As a result, several protesters were detained, and six police officers and two citizens were injured in the clashes that occurred.
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 Vu?i?.
After the student protest held on Slavija Square was officially declared over, a group of masked protesters clashed with police in the Serbian capital. Protesters clashed with police in Pionirski Park and Kralja Milan. They were seen throwing bottles, flags, wooden sticks and flares at police officers. Serbian media reports that one police officer was injured.
Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic has strongly condemned “the attacks by participants in the march on Slavija Square on members of the Interior Ministry.” He said he would take all measures to restore public order and that all those who attacked the police would be prosecuted.
Vu?i? has previously refused to call early elections. The coalition led by his Progressive Party holds 156 of the 250 seats in parliament.
On Saturday, Vucic declared that unspecified “foreign powers” ??were behind the protest. He said police should show restraint, but warned that violence would not be tolerated.
"The country will be defended and the bandits will face justice," he told reporters in Belgrade.