Serbian Police Fire Teargas at 34,300 Belgrade Protesters as Crowds Demand Early Elections
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 23
Serbian Police Fire Teargas at 34,300 Belgrade Protesters as Crowds Demand Early Elections
13 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 23
Teargas and stun grenades hit central Belgrade after sporadic clashes broke out near the presidency and city hall during a mass student-led protest against President Aleksandar Vucic.
Police put attendance at 34,300, while the Archive of Public Gatherings estimated about 100,000 as demonstrators packed Slavija Square demanding snap parliamentary elections and Vucic's exit.
The unrest grew from a youth-led anti-corruption movement sparked by the November 2024 Novi Sad station canopy collapse that killed 16 people and became a symbol of alleged mismanagement.
Vucic and his allies deny corruption and repression claims, saying they have punished those responsible, but the protests have entered a sharper phase after a year and a half of mobilization.
With protesters at home and EU pressure abroad, can Serbia’s president maintain his iron grip on power?
Can Serbia's student protesters unite the country when they are themselves ideologically divided?
Serbia’s Student Protest Movement 2024–2026: From Tragedy to Political Force and the Fight for Democracy
Overview
The Serbian student-led protest movement began after the tragic Novi Sad railway station collapse in November 2024, which exposed serious problems in public infrastructure and government accountability. Outrage over the disaster awakened a new generation, transforming calls for justice into a powerful movement demanding President Vucic’s resignation and systemic change. Over more than a year, students organized large demonstrations, expanded their demands to challenge authoritarian rule, and became a major political force. Their sustained activism has reshaped Serbia’s political landscape, showing strong public engagement and a collective push for transparency, accountability, and democratic reform.