Violence Escalates During Student Protests in Serbia
On Friday evening, chaos erupted in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, as demonstrators clashed with police during a large student protest. The violence unfolded outside the Philosophy Faculty building of the University of Novi Sad, where students hurled stones and bottles at officers, while police responded with tear gas. The incident has intensified ongoing tensions between protesters and authorities, marking a significant escalation in the protracted demonstrations that have been unfolding across the country.
The protests, which have been growing in intensity for months, were initially sparked by students’ demands for government accountability. This call for transparency followed the tragic collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, an incident that resulted in the deaths of 16 people. The students’ anger has been further fueled by their perception of governmental corruption, which they believe has led to systemic failures in public infrastructure and oversight.
According to reports, the violence in Novi Sad was preceded by a demand from students that police withdraw from the campus where they had been stationed for the past month. This demand was prompted by the activist group Blokada FFUNS, which organizes the campus blockades, accusing university dean Milivoj Alanovic of abusing his authority. The group has been at the forefront of these demonstrations, with its members organizing blockades and sit-ins at educational institutions across the country.
The clashes in Novi Sad, which resulted in several detentions and reported injuries, were described by Serbian police director Dragan Vasiljevic as an ‘attack on security protecting the campus.’ He emphasized that all citizens must respect the laws of the country, underscoring the government’s firm stance against the protests. Meanwhile, President Aleksandar Vucic has publicly accused the unrest of being fueled by external forces, labeling the protests as ‘violence disguised as activism.’ His remarks have further polarized public opinion, with critics arguing that the government is using the protests to deflect blame for its own failures.
The protests have already had significant political ramifications, including the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and the arrest of several officials on corruption charges. As the situation continues to unfold, the events in Novi Sad exemplify the deepening divide between the government and its citizens, with the protesters demanding accountability and transparency while the authorities maintain that the unrest is a threat to national stability.