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Serbian Student Protesters Block State Broadcasters' Offices

Protesters demand accountability for a deadly train station collapse as tensions rise ahead of a major rally.

CORRECTS DATE TO MONDAY - Serbian law enforcement stand as hundreds of students block the public broadcaster RTS building in central Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Students form a human chain as they block the public broadcaster RTS building in central Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Students block the entrance to the public broadcaster RTS building with barricades in central Belgrade, Serbia, early Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic)
Students and anti-government protesters block access to the offices of state broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), keeping employees out and forcing some of the live programming to go off air, in Belgrade, Serbia March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Djordje Kojadinovic

Overview

  • Student-led protests in Serbia, ongoing since November, escalated as demonstrators blocked access to state broadcasters RTS in Belgrade and RTV in Novi Sad.
  • The protests were sparked by a train station roof collapse in Novi Sad that killed 15 people, with protesters blaming government corruption and negligence for the tragedy.
  • Protesters accuse state broadcasters of biased reporting favoring President Aleksandar Vucic, whose decade-long rule is being challenged by the movement.
  • President Vucic has dismissed the protests, warned of potential violence at a planned March 15 rally, and accused demonstrators of being part of a foreign-backed effort to oust him.
  • The protests have remained largely peaceful but have seen isolated clashes, including one involving riot police at RTS headquarters, resulting in minor injuries.