Belgrade: More than 100,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Belgrade on Saturday in one of the largest anti-government protests Serbia has witnessed in decades. Students, workers, and activists faced off against riot police and supporters of President Aleksandar Vučić in a mass display of dissent.
The protests, which have been ongoing for months, were ignited by a railway station roof collapse that claimed 15 lives, triggering widespread accusations of government corruption and negligence.
Mass Mobilization Against Corruption
“We will not allow you to deprive us of our freedoms,” a student declared from the stage as demonstrators rallied in the Serbian capital.
Security sources and eyewitnesses estimated the crowd size to be well over 100,000, marking one of the most significant public mobilizations in the country’s history.
The government has strongly denied allegations of corruption and mismanagement, instead accusing Western intelligence agencies of backing efforts to destabilize Serbia.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Serbia's capital Belgrade to protest state corruption and negligence under President Aleksandar Vucic after a railway station roof collapse killed 15 people last year https://t.co/kSjMi2EEeQ pic.twitter.com/CgIymiycVi
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 15, 2025
Clashes and Arrests Amid Largely Peaceful Protest
While the protests have remained mostly peaceful, isolated incidents of violence were reported. Police confirmed that a car plowed into a column of demonstrators in a Belgrade suburb, injuring three people. Additionally, a student and a university lecturer were attacked in the city center.
Authorities apprehended 13 individuals overnight and early Saturday, including three men suspected of attacking tractors parked by pro-Vučić farmers around Pionirski Park, where government supporters have been camping.
A Defiant and Festive Atmosphere
Despite the tensions, the rally retained a festive mood. Across the street from Pionirski Park, hundreds of veterans from elite military brigades and biker groups, aligned with the student demonstrators, formed a protective line along the protest route between the Serbian parliament and Slavija Square.
Student-organized security teams, wearing fluorescent yellow vests, positioned themselves between protesters and police to prevent clashes.
“Today, we demonstrate our dissent to show what we are striving for—a normal state, a state of law, free from corruption, deception, media manipulation, and persecution,” said Aleksa Cvetanović, a 23-year-old student who has been attending protests since December.
Flares illuminated the night sky as demonstrators chanted slogans, including their rallying cry: “Pump it up.”
Demands for Accountability and Transparency
The protesters are demanding the public release of documents related to last year’s railway station disaster in Novi Sad and accountability for those responsible. Many traveled hundreds of miles by foot or bicycle to participate in the demonstration.
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In a show of solidarity, Belgrade residents stepped forward to support the protesters. Locals set up outdoor heaters, provided hot meals, and grandmothers handed out homemade biscuits and pies to the demonstrators.
Government Response and Calls for a General Strike
Authorities have so far charged 13 individuals in connection with the Novi Sad disaster, and the government has announced an anti-corruption campaign. Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and two ministers have resigned in response to the growing unrest.
Amid mounting pressure, Saturday’s protesters called for a renewed general strike in the coming days. However, previous attempts to mobilize public sector workers and businesses for a nationwide work stoppage have largely failed to gain traction.
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As Serbia grapples with its most significant wave of protests in years, the demonstrators remain resolute in their demand for justice, transparency, and systemic reforms.
