Yesterday, up to 100,000 people gathered in Belgrade for protests organiaed by students, rallying in support of the rule-of-law and against the incumbent government. Many demonstrators are also in favour of Serbia joining the European Union.
Protests erupted in Serbia earlier in November following a tragic incident in Novi Sad, where the roof of a train station collapsed, claiming 14 lives. The tragedy fueled widespread frustration with the government, which had been building over time, particularly after the recent presidential elections, widely suspected of being rigged. Last year, thousands of Serbs took to the streets to challenge the election results that declared incumbent President Aleksandar Vučić the winner.
President Aleksandar Vučić has adopted an autocratic style of governance, with his administration taking control of state institutions, including the judiciary, imposing censorship on the press, adopting a pro-Russia policy while distancing itself from the West, and attempting to create a crisis in Kosovo.
Protests are also taking place at numerous Serbian universities, where students are blocking roads daily for fifteen minutes at precisely 11:52 AM as part of a campaign called “Pause Serbia.” The time 11:52 AM marks the moment of the tragic incident in Novi Sad.
Newsroom
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