Overview

• Violence ignited on August 12 in Vrbas and quickly spread to Novi Sad, Belgrade, Niš, Kragujevac and Čačak as rival camps confronted each other outside Serbian Progressive Party offices
• Supporters of President Vučić reportedly threw flares, rocks and bottles at anti-government demonstrators, who hurled projectiles in response and were confronted by a military police officer firing a shot into the air
• Riot police deployed to some 90 locations used tear gas and stun grenades to separate the groups, detaining nearly 50 people and leaving dozens injured, including at least 16 officers
• Students and other protesters maintain their calls for full release of investigation documents, prosecutions over the Novi Sad canopy collapse and an early parliamentary election
• EU officials and UN human rights experts have warned about excessive force and political polarization, raising concerns over Serbia’s EU accession prospects