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Supporters welcome students from across Serbia as they converge in the capital Belgrade for mass protests over the fatal November 2024 Novi Sad railway station roof collapse, in Belgrade, Serbia March 14, 2025
| Photo Credit: Reuters
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A deafening sound of whistles and vuvuzelas echoed throughout downtown Belgrade on Saturday (March 15, 2025) as Serbia’s capital geared up for a major rally against populist President Aleksandar Vucic and his government.
Huge crowds have been converging on downtown Belgrade for the gathering seen as a culmination of months of almost daily anti-corruption protests that have posed the biggest challenge to Mr. Vucic’s 13-year firm grip on power in Serbia.
Reflecting mounting tensions, police said they arrested a man who rammed his car into protesters in a Belgrade suburb, injuring three people.
Ahead of the demonstration, Mr. Vucic repeatedly warned of alleged plans for unrest while threatening arrests and harsh sentences for any incidents.
In an apparent effort to prevent people from attending the rally, Belgrade city transport was cancelled Saturday (March 15, 2025) while huge columns of cars jammed the roads leading into the capital. The transport company said the cancellation was made “for security reasons.”
On Friday (March 14, 2025) evening, tens of thousands of people staged a joyous welcome for the students who have been marching or cycling for days from across Serbia toward Belgrade for the main rally on Saturday (March 15, 2025) afternoon. From early morning, people started assembling in various parts of the city, preparing to march toward the centre.
Fueling fears of clashes, Mr. Vucic’s supporters have been camping in central Belgrade in front of his headquarters. The crowd included ex-members of a dreaded paramilitary unit involved in the assassination in 2003 of Serbia’s first democratic Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, as well as soccer hooligans who are known for causing violence.
Private N1 television on Saturday (March 15, 2025) broadcast footage of dozens of young men with baseball caps going into the pro-Vucic camp.
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Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told state RTS broadcaster that 13 people had been detained overnight but that no major incidents were reported on Friday (March 14, 2025). He said police detained six opposition activists for allegedly plotting to stage a coup and stir unrest on Saturday (March 15, 2025).
Protesting students have led the nationwide anti-graft movement, which started after a concrete canopy collapsed at a train station and killed 15 people in Serbia’s north on November 1.
Many in Serbia blamed the crash on rampant government corruption, negligence and disrespect of construction safety regulations.
Mr. Vucic has been claiming that Western intelligence services were behind almost daily student-led protests with an aim to oust him from power.
Students have struck a chord among the citizens who are disillusioned with politicians and have lost faith in the state institutions. Previous student-led rallies in other Serbian cities have been peaceful while drawing huge crowds.
Published – March 15, 2025 05:24 pm IST
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Serbia’s capital braces for a major anti-government rally as tensions mount
