Latest news with #Serbians
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands attend pro-Serbia government rally after months of unrest
Tens of thousands of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's supporters have held a rally in Belgrade following months of unrest across the country. A monitoring organisation said around 55,000 people had gathered in front of the National Assembly. Despite some Vucic followers travelling from neighbouring countries, attendance was significantly lower than last month's huge anti-government protest. There have been regular demonstrations in Serbia since November when the collapse of a railway station canopy in the city of Novi Sad killed 15 people, triggering widespread public anger. A number of Serbians blamed the incident on alleged corruption and corner-cutting by Vucic's Progressive Party. The Serbian leader had promoted the rally on Saturday as the launch of a "Movement for the People and the State", which would "save" Serbia from forces working to "destroy" the country. In a speech at the event, he called on prosecutors to work to restore order and peace. He claimed the student-led protests had been threatening Serbia's peace and stability, accusing attendees of being paid by "foreign intelligence agencies". "Certain foreign powers cannot bear to see a free, independent and sovereign Serbia", he said, without clarifying which "powers" he was referring to. Vucic also criticised national broadcaster RTS, describing it as a "key participant" in an attempted "colour revolution". After the Novi Sad incident last November, some blamed what had happened on more than a decade of governing by the Progressive Party of Vucic - who closely associated himself with the station's prior renovation. It was considered a key part of the government's flagship infrastructure project - the high-speed line from Belgrade to Budapest in Hungary. The demonstrations that followed the disaster saw attendees use the slogan "corruption kills". They claimed that the opaque procurement procedures the government used for infrastructure projects had enriched a few favoured contractors while putting public safety at risk. Despite multiple resignations - and Vucic's insistence that he was going nowhere - protests grew. Last month, hundreds of thousands of people descended on Serbia's capital. An independent monitor estimated 325,000 - if not more - had gathered, making it Serbia's largest protest ever. Government denies using 'sonic cannon' at Serbia protests Fury over Serbia station tragedy prompts first arrests
BBC News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Thousands attend pro-Serbia government rally after months of unrest
Tens of thousands of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's supporters have held a rally in Belgrade following months of unrest across the country.A monitoring organisation said around 55,000 people had gathered in front of the National Assembly. Despite some Vucic followers travelling from neighbouring countries, attendance was significantly lower than last month's huge anti-government have been regular demonstrations in Serbia since November when the collapse of a railway station canopy in the city of Novi Sad killed 15 people, triggering widespread public anger.A number of Serbians blamed the incident on alleged corruption and corner-cutting by Vucic's Progressive Party. The Serbian leader had promoted the rally on Saturday as the launch of a "Movement for the People and the State", which would "save" Serbia from forces working to "destroy" the a speech at the event, he called on prosecutors to work to restore order and peace. He claimed the student-led protests had been threatening Serbia's peace and stability, accusing attendees of being paid by "foreign intelligence agencies"."Certain foreign powers cannot bear to see a free, independent and sovereign Serbia", he said, without clarifying which "powers" he was referring to. Vucic also criticised national broadcaster RTS, describing it as a "key participant" in an attempted "colour revolution". After the Novi Sad incident last November, some blamed what had happened on more than a decade of governing by the Progressive Party of Vucic - who closely associated himself with the station's prior was considered a key part of the government's flagship infrastructure project - the high-speed line from Belgrade to Budapest in demonstrations that followed the disaster saw attendees use the slogan "corruption kills". They claimed that the opaque procurement procedures the government used for infrastructure projects had enriched a few favoured contractors while putting public safety at multiple resignations - and Vucic's insistence that he was going nowhere - protests month, hundreds of thousands of people descended on Serbia's independent monitor estimated 325,000 - if not more - had gathered, making it Serbia's largest protest ever.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Serbians march in 4 cities against government pressure and hate speech
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Thousands of Serbians marched in four cities on Monday protesting government pressure and hate speech directed at university students and professors behind months of anti-corruption protests shaking populist President Aleksandar Vucic. The marches were organized a day after a woman attacked a faculty dean in Serbia's south with a knife, which protesters blamed on a hate campaign that they say is fueled by top officials and pro-government media. Increasingly authoritarian Vucic has struggled to quell persistent demonstrations triggered by a train station canopy collapse in November, which killed 16 people. Critics have blamed the deadly crash on rampant government corruption leading to sloppy and unsafe renovation work on the station building. Serbian university students and their professors have been a key force behind the nationwide demonstrations also reflecting a wider discontent with Vucic's rule. He has accused protesters of working against the state interests. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but Vucic has maintained close ties with Russia and China while facing accusations of stifling democratic freedoms. Ivan Videnovic, assistant professor at Belgrade University's faculty of physics, said he joined the march Monday in the capital city 'because of repression against people ... because of physical and verbal attacks on university professors and deans.' Natalija Jovanovic, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy in Nis on Sunday, suffered a hand injury in Sunday's knife attack in the southern city of Nis. She blamed the attack on Vucic, who has repeatedly branded her a 'criminal.' Last week, a senior government official called for the arrest of Vladan Djokic, the head dean of the University in Belgrade. Apart from Belgrade, demonstrations were held in the northern city of Novi Sad, the central city of Kragujevac and Nis, in the south. The four cities are the university centers in the Balkan country.
Washington Post
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Serbians march in 4 cities against government pressure and hate speech
BELGRADE, Serbia — Thousands of Serbians marched in four cities on Monday protesting government pressure and hate speech directed at university students and professors behind months of anti-corruption protests shaking populist President Aleksandar Vucic. The marches were organized a day after a woman attacked a faculty dean in Serbia's south with a knife, which protesters blamed on a hate campaign that they say is fueled by top officials and pro-government media.
The Independent
31-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Serbians march in 4 cities against government pressure and hate speech
Thousands of Serbians marched in four cities on Monday protesting government pressure and hate speech directed at university students and professors behind months of anti-corruption protests shaking populist President Aleksandar Vucic. The marches were organized a day after a woman attacked a faculty dean in Serbia's south with a knife, which protesters blamed on a hate campaign that they say is fueled by top officials and pro-government media. Increasingly authoritarian Vucic has struggled to quell persistent demonstrations triggered by a train station canopy collapse in November, which killed 16 people. Critics have blamed the deadly crash on rampant government corruption leading to sloppy and unsafe renovation work on the station building. Serbian university students and their professors have been a key force behind the nationwide demonstrations also reflecting a wider discontent with Vucic's rule. He has accused protesters of working against the state interests. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but Vucic has maintained close ties with Russia and China while facing accusations of stifling democratic freedoms. Ivan Videnovic, assistant professor at Belgrade University's faculty of physics, said he joined the march Monday in the capital city 'because of repression against people ... because of physical and verbal attacks on university professors and deans.' Natalija Jovanovic, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy in Nis on Sunday, suffered a hand injury in Sunday's knife attack in the southern city of Nis. She blamed the attack on Vucic, who has repeatedly branded her a 'criminal.' Last week, a senior government official called for the arrest of Vladan Djokic, the head dean of the University in Belgrade. Apart from Belgrade, demonstrations were held in the northern city of Novi Sad, the central city of Kragujevac and Nis, in the south. The four cities are the university centers in the Balkan country.
