Latest news with #NoviSad
Russia Today
20 hours 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.
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Serbia hit by anti-government riots after railway collapse
The offices of Serbia 's ruling party have been set on fire during a fifth night of unrest between anti-government protesters and riot police. More than 130 police officers have been injured and 18 people arrested as authorities struggle to regain control, with incidents in Belgrade, Valjevo and Novi Sad. Police in the city of Valjevo, western Serbia, were accused of using stun grenades and tear gas after a small group of masked protesters attacked the empty offices of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). Serbia's interior ministry denied allegations of violence and police brutality in Belgrade, the country's capital, and Novi Sad, which lies to the north east. The unrest was caused by the collapse of a railway station in Novi Sad in November, which killed 16 people. Protesters claimed the station's renovators had been allowed to cut corners. The investigation into the collapse is still ongoing, but a dozen officials, including a government minister, are facing charges. The student-led anti-corruption demonstrations had been largely peaceful until Wednesday, when pro-government supporters launched counter-protests. On Saturday, riot police were deployed across a number of cities, including Belgrade. Russia, a key Serbia ally, has expressed its support for Aleksandar Vucic, the country's pro-Kremlin president who leads the SNS. Mr Vucic on Sunday vowed a 'strong' response to the anti-government protesters, who he compared to 'terrorists'. 'You will see the full determination of the Serbian state. We will use everything at our disposal to restore law, peace and order,' he said. As well as attacking the offices of the SNS, protesters smashed the windows of the Serbian Radical Party, a coalition partner. Footage showed fireworks being launched at the front of the offices, causing fires. Injuries have been reported at protests across the country, with online footage purporting to show one man being beaten by police in Valjevo. Ivica Dacic, Serbia's interior minister, said: 'There will be more detentions. All those who have broken the law will be arrested.' Mr Vucic's government, despite courting EU membership and receiving billions of euros in aid from Brussels, has remained close with Moscow, backing its war in Ukraine. The Serbian president is also on good terms with Donald Trump, whose son-in-law Jared Kushner is planning to build a hotel in Belgrade. He said the protest movement had been infiltrated by foreign agents to 'destroy Serbia' and vowed to crack down on demonstrations. Russia 's foreign ministry on Friday said it may offer further support to Mr Vucic, describing the protests as 'violent riots'. 'Russia cannot remain unresponsive to what is happening in brotherly Serbia,' it said. Alain Berset, the secretary general of the council of Europe, has called for 'calm and respect for the right to peaceful assembly'. He said: 'Serbian authorities must uphold Council of Europe standards.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Serbia's president vows 'strong response' after days of unrest
Serbia's president on Sunday vowed a "strong" response to anti-government protests, after nearly a week of violent clashes involving his supporters, police and demonstrators across the country. Clashes have erupted in the capital, Belgrade and other cities for five nights in a row, with fireworks, stones, stun grenades and tear gas used. More than 130 police officers have been injured so far, the right-wing president, Aleksandar Vucic, said at a press conference in Belgrade, with dozens of citizens also reporting injuries and seeking medical assistance. On Saturday, violence flared in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Valjevo, where a small group of masked men attacked and set fire to the empty offices of Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party. "You will see the full determination of the Serbian state. We will use everything at our disposal to restore law, peace and order," Vucic said. He added that the government needed a few days to prepare "the legal and formal framework" for the response. "It will be very different from what you have seen so far," he added, without disclosing details, but said that declaring a state of emergency was not being considered. Vucic compared anti-government protesters with "terrorists", a term he has frequently repeated since mass demonstrations began late last year. 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 peak, the protests drew hundreds of thousands onto the streets. 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 sparked violent clashes, further fuelled by videos shared online showing police striking unarmed demonstrators with batons. Police have denied allegations of brutality, and accused demonstrators of attacking officers. - 'Concerning' violence - The European Union's commissioner for enlargement, Marta Kos, earlier this week said violence reported at protests was "deeply concerning". Vucic said he had also received personal messages from other European officials recently, but did not provide further details. The protests were also being followed in Russia, which remains a close Serbian ally despite Belgrade's declared path to the EU. Russia's foreign ministry issued a statement on Friday saying that it may offer further support to Vucic and decribing the protests as "violent riots". "Russia cannot remain unresponsive to what is happening in brotherly Serbia," it said. While the protests have so far led to the resignation of the prime minister and the collapse of the government, 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, claiming that "billions of euros" had allegedly been invested in the scheme. oz/al/rmb Solve the daily Crossword
France 24
a day ago
- Politics
- France 24
Serbia's president vows 'strong response' after days of unrest
Clashes have erupted in the capital, Belgrade and other cities for five nights in a row, with fireworks, stones, stun grenades and tear gas used. More than 130 police officers have been injured so far, the right-wing president, Aleksandar Vucic, said at a press conference in Belgrade, with dozens of citizens also reporting injuries and seeking medical assistance. On Saturday, violence flared in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Valjevo, where a small group of masked men attacked and set fire to the empty offices of Vucic's ruling Serbian Progressive Party. "You will see the full determination of the Serbian state. We will use everything at our disposal to restore law, peace and order," Vucic said. He added that the government needed a few days to prepare "the legal and formal framework" for the response. "It will be very different from what you have seen so far," he added, without disclosing details, but said that declaring a state of emergency was not being considered. Vucic compared anti-government protesters with "terrorists", a term he has frequently repeated since mass demonstrations began late last year. 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 peak, the protests drew hundreds of thousands onto the streets. 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 sparked violent clashes, further fuelled by videos shared online showing police striking unarmed demonstrators with batons. Police have denied allegations of brutality, and accused demonstrators of attacking officers. 'Concerning' violence The European Union's commissioner for enlargement, Marta Kos, earlier this week said violence reported at protests was "deeply concerning". Vucic said he had also received personal messages from other European officials recently, but did not provide further details. The protests were also being followed in Russia, which remains a close Serbian ally despite Belgrade's declared path to the EU. Russia's foreign ministry issued a statement on Friday saying that it may offer further support to Vucic and decribing the protests as "violent riots". "Russia cannot remain unresponsive to what is happening in brotherly Serbia," it said. While the protests have so far led to the resignation of the prime minister and the collapse of the government, 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, claiming that "billions of euros" had allegedly been invested in the scheme.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Serbia ruling party offices set on fire in protests
Fresh clashes erupted between anti-government protesters and riot police across Serbia in the fifth night of unrest in a row, after offices of the the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) were set on fire. Police in Valjevo reportedly used stun grenades and tear gas on protesters after a small group of masked people attacked the empty facilities of the SNS, setting them on fire. There were widespread allegations of violence and police brutality in the capital, Belgrade, and Novi Sad. Serbia's interior ministry has denied these allegations. It comes as Russia pledged to shore up the beleaguered pro-Moscow President Aleksandar Vučić, who leads the SNS, saying it would not "remain unresponsive". The protests were initially triggered by a railway station collapse in Novi Sad in November last year, with Serbians demanding an early election and the end to President Aleksander Vučić's 12-year reign. While anti-corruption demonstrations have drawn in hundreds of thousands of protestors, they had been largely peaceful until Wednesday's clash, when pro-government loyalists staged counter-demonstrations. On Saturday night, riot police were again deployed in a number of cities including Belgrade as people took part in demonstrations to demand early elections. Offices and flags representing Vučić's SNS party had been a focus of the protesters' anger. Protesters also smashed the windows of the headquarters of the Serbian Radical Party, a coalition partner of the ruling SNS. In the past week, injuries have been reported at protests across the country and unverified video has circulated on social media of police beating a man in Valjevo. Michael O'Flaherty, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, raised concern on Friday over the "police's disproportionate force" in Serbia, urging authorities to "end arbitrary arrests and de-escalate the situation". The man who remade Serbia Vučić responded to Saturday's developments on Instagram, writing that "violence is an expression of total weakness" and promising to "punish the bullies." He has repeatedly rejected calls for early elections and denounced the demonstrations as part of a foreign plot to overthrow him. Russia's Foreign Ministry has offered their support to the pro-Moscow right-wing president. In a statement the ministry said that "we cannot remain unresponsive to what is happening in brotherly Serbia." The statement said that police were "using lawful methods and means to contain the violent mobs" and that "public order, security, and human lives" were at risk. Almost daily protests have gripped Serbia since November, after the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station roof that killed 16 people. The tragedy became a symbol of entrenched corruption in the Balkan country, with initial calls for transparent probes growing into demands for early elections. At their peak, the protests drew hundreds of thousands on to the streets.
