Chaos at Vidovdan Protest in Belgrade: Students vs Vučić, Police Tear Gas, Arrests and Clashes!
Vidovdan in Belgrade this year was anything but ordinary. At Slavija Square, the epicenter of months-long student protests, tensions exploded. Police fired tear gas on Kneza Miloša street near the General Staff building as protesters threw stones, bottles, and flares. Clashes spread to the Church of St. Mark, where masked men attacked police with bottles and fireworks.
Violence and Arrests
Police responded with hundreds of riot gear-clad officers, including gendarmes and armored vehicles. Several people were injured, and at least one protester was detained. Protesters shouted insults at Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, while students declared the fight was not just theirs but all citizens’, demanding snap elections.
Student Movement and Ultimatum
The protest began with a moment of silence for victims of the collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad railway station. Students issued an ultimatum to the Serbian government to dissolve parliament and call early parliamentary elections by 9 PM, which expired. Although the protest was officially declared over around 9:45 PM, clashes continued, and police pushed crowds toward the Faculty of Law and other locations.
Vučić’s Reaction and Message
President Vučić stated in a video message that the students won and the blockaders lost, noting the number of protesters was three times smaller than on March 15. He praised the young people and wished them well in their studies.
Revealed Plans for Violence and Arrests
A special broadcast aired recordings of Ivan Matović, a councilor of the “New Face of Serbia” party, who planned violence at the Vidovdan protest. Matović spoke about organizing groups and plans for violent actions, including attacks on state institutions and police. The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced six arrests on suspicion of preparing acts against the constitutional order and security of Serbia.
Atmosphere on the Ground
About 36,000 people gathered at Slavija Square according to police estimates, waving numerous Serbian flags and holding banners against fascism and for justice. Protesters sang the Serbian anthem and chanted slogans against Vučić. Students set up fences to control access and prevent entry of government supporters.
Why This Matters?
This protest is not just a student movement but a symbol of broader public dissatisfaction with the current Serbian government. Demands for snap elections and election transparency reveal a deep crisis of trust in the political system. Violence and clashes with police further complicate the situation, while the government uses law enforcement to suppress protests.
Conclusion
Vidovdan 2024 in Belgrade will be remembered as the day students and citizens raised their voices against the regime, but also as the day the state responded with tear gas and arrests. Will this struggle bring change, or will the vicious cycle of protests and repression continue? Time will tell.
What do you think? Will the students succeed in toppling Vučić’s regime, or is this just another episode in an endless series of protests? Drop a comment, stir the conversation, or just share with friends — because this is not the end, but the beginning of a new fight!
