Information
Hundreds of student protesters in Serbia blocked the public television station, Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), in Belgrade overnight on Monday, escalating ongoing demonstrations. The protests began after a deadly train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad last November killed 15 people and have evolved into a broader movement against President Aleksandar Vucic’s government.
Students accuse RTS of biased reporting in favour of Vucic’s administration. Riot police used batons to disperse the protesters, resulting in at least one officer injury. Despite the blockade, RTS continued broadcasting as some employees entered through a side entrance. Protesters planned to maintain the blockade for at least 22 hours, with a major rally scheduled for the weekend.
The protests have received significant support from Serbian citizens, with tens of thousands attending since November, demanding accountability for the tragedy and addressing alleged government corruption. In a televised interview, Vucic condemned the protesters and warned against the upcoming rally, stating, “You will have to kill me if you want to replace me.” He and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) have dismissed the protests as foreign-backed efforts to destabilise Serbia.
Source: AP, Serbian media reports
So what
These protests have shown no sign of slowing down, despite the length of time they have been going. Though it still seems unlikely that Vucic will resign, it is hard to see how this situation can end without something changing. It still seems likely that the longer the protests continue, the more government forces will use violence against protesters. Additionally, it is possible that the country could look to hold elections as a way of legitimising Vucic’s rule, but that would, of course, risk him being unelected.
Follow us to join the intelligence community!