Belgrade is on fire with protests and blockades, and the state has finally decided to show its teeth! After students across Serbia took to the streets in support of their colleagues arrested on suspicion of preparing a coup, the situation escalated to the point where key bridges and roads were blocked, and the police had to intervene.
Professor of Law and Constitutional Court judge Vladan Petrov stated that he expected the state to react “just the way it should” and that yesterday passed within the bounds of some normalcy, without clashes between two groups. He praised the work of the competent authorities, noting that everything seemed well-prepared and measured, without the use of force against citizens.
On the other hand, political science professor Dragana Mitrović emphasized that law enforcement agencies have finally started to restore order and that the state cannot tolerate ultimatums. She stressed that violence was not the goal of the protests, but that people wanted to show support for Kosovo and Metohija.
However, the situation did not remain calm. After protests at Slavija Square, incidents occurred in the center of Belgrade where two people were arrested, and the police used force to disperse demonstrations. The gendarmerie was on the streets, and protesters threw flares and objects at the police.
The Belgrade Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that in a joint operation of the police and the Security-Information Agency, two more students were arrested on suspicion of preparing an attack on state institutions and blocking critical infrastructure. A total of eight people are suspected of preparing a criminal offense against the constitutional order and security of Serbia.
Protests were held in several cities across Serbia, with students demanding criminal and political responsibility for the tragedy in Novi Sad, where 16 people died after a canopy collapsed at the railway station. Students also demanded the dissolution of the Parliament and the calling of early elections, while the authorities appeal to the police to stop the gatherings.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dačić confirmed that there were several blockades in Belgrade during the evening, including Gazela and Pančevački Bridge, as well as in Novi Sad. He stated that he would monitor the situation and hopes everything will proceed without major incidents.
It is clear that Serbia is on the brink of chaos, with students who do not give up on their demands and a state that has decided to show its strength. Will this be the beginning of the end of the student protests or just a prelude to even fiercer clashes? Only time will tell.
And you? Do you think the state is finally doing its job or has repression gone too far? Drop a comment, let your voice be heard in this madness!
