Overview

• Tens of thousands of university-led demonstrators filled central Belgrade, chanting “We want elections!” and pressing for a parliamentary vote ahead of the 2027 schedule.
• Riot police deployed tear gas and pepper spray to disperse the crowd, detaining dozens of protesters on charges including attacking officers.
• President Vucic accused unnamed foreign powers of fomenting unrest, declaring that violence would not be tolerated and that the state must be defended.
• Hundreds of Vucic supporters maintained a camp in Pionirski Park and staged a counter-demonstration near parliament to show loyalty to the ruling party.
• The demonstration marks eight months of anti-corruption protests ignited by last November’s deadly Novi Sad station canopy collapse that killed 16 people.