Vučić’s Regime and Student Rebellion: Blockades, Pardons for Thugs, and Denial of Rights to Croats
Serbia is engulfed in months-long waves of civil disobedience, targeting the regime of Aleksandar Vučić, which spares no means to crush the uprising. Students and citizens are blocking intersections across the country, demanding snap elections and justice for victims of violence. Yet, Vučić and his government not only ignore their demands but also protect thugs and deny basic rights to Croatian citizens.
Total Blockade of Serbia: Students Refuse to Back Down
The protests began in November last year and peaked with massive blockades in cities like Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, and others. Students called on citizens to join the “total blockade of Serbia,” shouting “You won’t crush us!”. Police often responded with arrests and violence, but also with minimal force, while authorities warned of criminal charges against organizers.
President Vučić appealed to students to end the blockades, claiming the state wants to allow freedom of assembly but cannot tolerate violence. Yet, Vučić simultaneously stated that police protect even illegal gatherings, causing confusion and outrage among citizens.
Denial of Rights to Croats: A Diplomatic Scandal
While Serbia struggles with its internal unrest, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman publicly accused Serbia of inappropriately denying entry to Croatian citizens. Since August last year, about 50 Croats have been either barred from entering Serbia or denied residence permits, often without official explanation, under the pretext of posing a security threat.
Alarmingly, 14 young Croatian citizens, mostly students, were denied entry at the border a day before a major protest in Serbia on June 27, without clear reasons except unofficial suspicion they intended to participate in protests. Croatia has since recommended its citizens postpone all non-essential travel to Serbia.
Pardoning Thugs: Vučić Protects His Enforcers
Amid the protests, Vučić shocked the public by pardoning four activists of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) who brutally attacked students in Novi Sad in January, breaking one female student’s jaw. This attack led to the fall of the then-government, but Vučić’s decision to pardon the thugs sparked outrage from the opposition and civil movements.
Opposition politicians and activists condemn Vučić for protecting thugs and ignoring victims’ rights, claiming SNS has crossed all lines and become an organized criminal group systematically rewarding violence.
Political Repression and Legal Pressure on Protesters
MP Vladimir Jelić from POKS publicly confirmed he was summoned to court for participating in blockades, while police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced criminal charges against protest organizers. The Serbian Parliament’s legislative committee postponed discussion of a law on public gatherings, which could further restrict the right to protest, raising fears the government plans harsher measures against demonstrators.
Conclusion: Serbia on the Brink of Chaos and Repression
As students and citizens bravely continue their fight for rights, Aleksandar Vučić’s regime shows readiness to use every dark tactic—from denying rights to Croats, pardoning thugs, to legal pressure on protesters—to maintain power. Serbia stands on the edge of civil conflict, and the question is how long the world will watch and stay silent.
Think this is just another political drama? Think again. This story is far from over, and you? Are you for peace or chaos? Or maybe for blockades and rebellion? Drop a comment, let the people’s voice be heard!
