Serbian Police Detain 23 in Belgrade Clashes as Protest Crowd Swells to 100,000
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 23
Serbian Police Detain 23 in Belgrade Clashes as Protest Crowd Swells to 100,000
13 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 23
Police fired tear gas and stun grenades in central Belgrade after clashes erupted with anti-government protesters demanding early elections and President Aleksandar Vucic's exit; Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said 23 people were detained.
Riot police had sealed off city hall and later pushed demonstrators back from the presidency building and a park where Vucic supporters have camped since March 2025, as protesters set rubbish bins on fire.
Crowd estimates underscored the scale of the rally: police counted 34,300 people, while the Archive of Public Gatherings put attendance at about 100,000.
The student-led movement grew out of the November 2024 Novi Sad station canopy collapse that killed 16 people, a disaster protesters cite as evidence of corruption and mismanagement that Vucic and his allies deny.
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.