Vucic's regime, contested again in the streets. A new large-scale demonstration in Belgrade
Anti-government protesters in Belgrade Photo: Darko Vojinovic / AP / Profimedia
Thousands of anti-government demonstrators, led by students, marched peacefully through the Serbian capital Belgrade on Saturday, demanding that those responsible be held accountable for the death of 16 people following the collapse of the roof of a train station and for an attack on a student demonstration a year ago, reports Reuters, quoted by News.ro.
The November 1, 2024, tragedy at the train station in the northern city of Novi Sad sparked a nationwide peaceful protest movement led by students and university professors that shook populist President Aleksandar Vucic's 13-year rule.
Last year, more than 30 supporters of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) loyal to Vucic, including local officials, clashed with students of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts who had blocked an intersection in Belgrade to commemorate the disaster in Novi Sad.
Four of them were convicted of assault following judicial agreements. The students say they want all identified aggressors to be held criminally responsible and an investigation to find out who orchestrated the attack.
People from all over Serbia gathered in Novi Sad, one year after the tragedy that sparked a wave of national protests. Some have walked hundreds of kilometers: “I can hardly describe what I feel”
The demonstrators also called for early elections, hoping to oust Vucic and his party. “They (SNS) have been in power for too long… No one will give this up,” said Vesna Petovic, 50, a protester from Belgrade.
Several large-scale demonstrations organized during the summer in Belgrade and other parts of Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, were dispersed by police with stun grenades and tear gas.
Protesters and human rights organizations accused the police of using excessive force. The authorities declared that the protesters attacked the headquarters of the ruling party and its supporters.
