Overview

• Thousands gathered at the State University of Novi Sad, where riot units fired tear gas and stun grenades and pushed crowds off the campus.
• President Aleksandar Vucic reported 11 injured police officers, alleged foreign security services were behind the unrest, and said his supporters would rally on Sunday.
• The movement began after a November 2024 train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people, fueling accusations of corruption that the government denies.
• Authorities have dismissed dozens of professors, deans and teachers in recent months, installing loyalists and intensifying disputes over university autonomy.
• Protests that were largely peaceful turned more violent on August 13 with injuries on both sides, drawing criticism over forceful policing as demonstrators continue to demand early elections.