Tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets of Belgrade on Saturday, demanding snap elections and an end to President Aleksandar Vucic’s 12-year rule.
Belgrade witnessed a massive anti-government demonstration on Saturday, with students and anti-corruption activists leading calls for early elections and political reform. The protest, one of the largest in years, posed a growing challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic.
Police in riot gear surrounded government buildings and parliament as thousands of Vucic supporters staged a counter-protest nearby in Pionirski Park. The government loyalists included war veterans and bikers who have maintained street blockades in the capital for months.
Demonstrators waved Serbian flags, carried banners naming their hometowns, and sang the national anthem before speeches began.
"We hope for real change after decades of struggle," said Ljiljana Ilic from Valjevo.
Nikola Vukovic from Belgrade said the goal was clear. "We want to change Serbia and bring this government to an end. The next fight will be at the ballot box," he said.
Milica Ivanovic from Lajkovac expressed full support for the student movement. "We are here with strength and courage, standing with them in our hearts," she said.
The protests remained peaceful, with participants stressing non-violence. However, President Vucic warned of possible violence later in the day. Recent weeks have seen more than a dozen arrests as part of what critics call an ongoing crackdown on dissent.
Student organizers had issued an ultimatum, demanding that Vucic call early elections by 9 p.m. on Saturday. The president firmly rejected the call, telling state television on Friday that there would be no elections before 2026.
The unrest began in November following a deadly train station collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16 people. The incident, blamed on government corruption and neglect, sparked nationwide outrage.
After months of university blockades and street protests, demonstrators shifted their demands to broader political reforms and snap parliamentary elections.
Vucic continues to accuse the opposition of serving foreign interests and attempting to destabilize the country.
As night fell, thousands remained on the streets, chanting and waving flags, vowing to keep up the pressure.
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East, meanwhile Pakistan has offered...
A flotilla carrying humanitarian aid arrived in Havana on Tuesday morning (24 March) amid a U.S. oil blockade t...
The UK government is to trial social media bans, curfews and app time limits in the homes of 300 teenagers, as part o...
Hungary will gradually halt gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries resume via the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said o...
NASA announced on Tuesday it has cancelled plans to deploy a space station in lunar orbit and will instead...
Serbian police used tear gas and stun grenades Friday to disperse protesters at a university campus in Novi Sad demanding early elections and the resignation of President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Following the tragic incident at the Novi Sad railway station, student-led protests in Serbia have turned into the most serious public outcry against the government — a new prime minister has been appointed, while allegations of sound weapon use have been officially denied.
Human rights groups have accused the Serbian government of using a sonic weapon to disperse a massive protest in Belgrade. However, the authorities have denied these claims, stating that their security forces did not deploy a sonic weapon to intimidate protesters at the anti-government rally.
Thousands in Niš held a 15-minute silence on Saturday to honor victims of a train station disaster, as student-led protests against corruption continue to grow across Serbia.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. was talking to the right people in Iran to make a deal on Tuesday (24 March), as Pakistan's Prime Minister offered to host peace talks between the two countries to bring about an end to the conflict.
Afghan authorities say Pakistani jets entered northern Afghanistan, while Pakistan insists its actions target terrorism, highlighting continued strain after a temporary Eid ceasefire ended.
As conflict continues to unsettle the Middle East, airlines are being forced to make difficult, fast-moving decisions - redrawing flight paths and searching for safe skies. Amid this uncertainty, Azerbaijan has emerged as a crucial gateway linking Europe and Asia.
Both the United States and Iran are giving conflicting messages about trying to end the conflict in the Middle East, meanwhile Pakistan has offered to be a mediator and a reported 15 point plan has been sent to Tehran. Welcome to AnewZ's coverage of the tensions in the Middle East.
FinaFinal results from Slovenia’s parliamentary elections indicate a near tie between the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) and the liberal Freedom Movement Slovenia (GS), leaving neither side with a clear path to power.
The UK government is to trial social media bans, curfews and app time limits in the homes of 300 teenagers, as part of a wider consultation on restricting under-16s’ access to platforms and improving online safety.
Hungary will gradually halt gas supplies to Ukraine until oil deliveries resume via the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Wednesday.
British police said they arrested two men in connection with the suspected antisemitic arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in north London earlier this week.
A drone has flown into Estonian airspace from Russia. It happened early on Wednesday morning and slammed into a chimney at a local power station, the Baltic country's Internal Security Service told public broadcaster ERR.
Moldova's parliament approved the introduction of a 60-day energy state of emergency after Russian attacks in neighbouring Ukraine knocked out of service a power line providing most of the country's energy. Deputies approved the measure with 72 votes in favour in the 101-member chamber.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment