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Washington Post
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Police chase anti-government protesters in Serbia as president pledges crackdown
BELGRADE, Serbia — Thousands of anti-government protesters marched again in Serbia on Monday with baton-wielding riot police chasing them in downtown Belgrade, prompting Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic to reiterate his pledge of a planned major crackdown against the demonstrators. The protest in the country's capital was peaceful until a group of young people, believed to be soccer hooligans, split from the crowd and hurled rocks at ruling party's downtown offices, breaking front windows. The riot police soon appeared at the scene on armored trucks, dispersing the crowd and triggering a panicky escape by the crowd. In a show of defiance, Vucic showed up at his party's damaged office , calling the protesters terrorists and saying that 'soon, the citizens will be freed from this terror and evil.' Vucic on Sunday announced tough measures against anti-government protesters following days of riots in the streets throughout Serbia that have challenged his increasingly autocratic rule in the Balkan country. On Monday, he reiterated his claims that months of persistent protests against his rule have been orchestrated in the West and aimed at destroying Serbia. 'Our country is in grave danger, they have jeopardized all our values, normal life, each individual,' Vucic said. The stern warnings came after days of clashes between the protesters on one side and police and Vucic's loyalists on the other. Angry protesters on Saturday evening torched Vucic's governing Serbian Progressive Party offices in a town in western Serbia. Vucic did not specify what the state response would be in the coming days. Scores of people have already been detained and injured in the past days while police have faced accusations of excessive force and arbitrary detentions of protesters. The clashes last week marked a major escalation of violence following more than nine months of largely peaceful demonstrations that started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station in Serbia's north, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy on alleged widespread corruption in state-run infrastructure projects. Vucic has faced accusations of stifling democratic freedoms while allowing organized crime and corruption to flourish, which he denies. Serbia is formally seeking European Union membership, but Vucic has maintained strong ties with both Russia and China.
Russia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Serbian leader promising ‘decisive action' against protests
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has pledged to take tough measures to restore order after anti-government protests across the country turned violent this week. On Saturday, demonstrators in the western town of Valjevo set fire to the offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) following three days of clashes with riot police. Earlier in the week, protesters in Novi Sad stormed and damaged an SNS headquarters, leaving over 60 people injured. In a televised address on Sunday, Vucic accused the rioters of 'pure terrorism' and suggested the protests were orchestrated from abroad. 'Our country is in grave danger… Unless we undertake tougher steps it is a question of days when [the protesters] will kill someone,' Vucic warned. Protests in Serbia first broke out in 2024 after a railway station roof collapsed in Novi Sad, killing 16 people. Demonstrators alleged government corruption and demanded early elections. Vucic has repeatedly suggested the violence is an attempt at regime change, a view also shared by Russia. The Kremlin said in June that anti-government demonstrations in Serbia could be an attempted 'color revolution,' and expressed confidence that the Serbian leadership could restore calm. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged Western nations to refrain from interfering in Serbia's domestic affairs. Serbia is formally seeking EU membership. However, Vucic has maintained historically strong ties with Moscow, relying on it for discounted natural gas supplies. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos earlier this week called the reports of violence 'deeply concerning.' Brussels has suggested that the Belgrade's handling of the unrest could impact Serbia's path to EU accession.
Sky News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Tear gas deployed as protesters clash with Serbian police in latest violent demonstration
Tear gas was deployed in the latest violent clash between protesters and police in Serbia. Tensions soared in the Balkan nation on Saturday after a group of young men wearing scarves over their faces threw flares at President Aleksandar Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party offices in Valjevo, 100km (60 miles) from the capital Belgrade. The protesters, who were chanting slogans against Mr Vucic, set fire to the offices before clashing with riot police, who used multiple rounds of tear gas to fight and charged at demonstrators who were hurling bottles, rocks and flares at them. There were similar clashes in Belgrade and the northern city of Novi Sad, with police also deploying tear gas after protesters set bins on fire. In the town of Valjevo, thousands of people took to the streets to protest after a young man was injured by police who kicked him and hit him with batons. One policeman was injured in the demonstration and 18 people were arrested so far, interior minister Ivica Dacic said. 1:02 The protests calling for snap elections and an end to the 12-year rule of President Aleksandar Vucic have been largely peaceful in the past month before escalating to violence this week. University students have been a key force behind nationwide demonstrations that started after a renovated rail station canopy collapsed, killing 16 people in November last year. Many blamed the concrete roof crash on government corruption and negligence in state infrastructure projects, leading to recurring protests. Mr Vucic and his right-wing party have repeatedly refused the demand for an early parliamentary vote and accused protesters of planning to spur violence on orders from abroad, which they have not specified. A former extreme nationalist, Mr Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power more than a decade ago. He formally says he wants Serbia to join the European Union, but critics say he has stifled democratic freedoms and strengthened ties with Russia and China. Serbia's parliamentary elections are due in 2027.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Best photos of August 17: Largest paper balloon to protests in Serbia
A demonstrator stands before riot police officers at an anti-government rally in Valjevo, the fifth night of unrest across Serbia in protest against the party of right-wing President Aleksandar Vucic. AFP
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Photos: Protesters clash with police, torch Serbia's ruling party offices
Published On 17 Aug 2025 17 Aug 2025 Protesters have clashed with riot police in Serbia's capital, Belgrade, and other cities, on the fifth consecutive night of demonstrations against the government of right-wing President Aleksandar Vucic. Clashes also broke out in Belgrade late on Saturday after police stopped demonstrators heading for the governing Serbian Progressive Party's (SNS) headquarters. Late on Saturday, thousands gathered in the central city of Valjevo to show their growing anger against the government, while a small group of masked young men attacked the empty offices of the governing SNS party, setting them alight. They subsequently clashed with riot police, with protesters throwing fireworks and rocks as the officers responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Some clashes were also reported in the northern city of Novi Sad, the country's second largest. Almost daily protests have gripped Serbia since November, following the collapse of a railway station roof that killed 16 people. The tragedy became a symbol of deep-rooted corruption in the Balkan nation, with demands for a transparent investigation growing into calls for early elections. At their height, the protests drew hundreds of thousands onto the streets. However, the mostly peaceful demonstrations deteriorated earlier this week when large groups of pro-government supporters – many masked and some armed with batons and fireworks – attacked protesters. That has led to violent clashes for several nights, leaving many injured on both sides. Protests were further heightened after several videos shared online showed police striking unarmed demonstrators with batons. Police have denied allegations of brutality, accusing demonstrators of attacking officers. While the protests have so far led to the resignation of the prime minister and the collapse of the government, President Vucic has remained defiant. He has repeatedly rejected calls for early elections and denounced the demonstrations as part of a foreign plot to overthrow him.
