Serbia has been engulfed in protest chaos. After three hours of speeches and programs, the "See you on Vidovdan" protest on Slavija Square, called by students who have been blocking faculties for seven months, ended violently.
At around 10:00 PM, the students announced that their ultimatum to the Serbian Government had expired and that this was no longer their protest, and that they were staying there as citizens. Not long after, there was a clash between the police and the protesters who headed straight for the National Assembly and the Pioneer Park. After a clash on King Milan Street, the Gendarmerie pushed the protesters towards the Serbian Government building.
When they reached the police cordon, protesters attacked them and threw stones, writes A2 CNN.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs previously announced a police estimate that around 36,000 participants were present at the protest in Slavija. The Ministry of Internal Affairs stressed that this was an unregistered gathering and added that this was a similar number of participants to those present at the rally of the same organizers on December 22 last year, and three times less than on March 15.
Police fired tear gas at protesters. They were seen throwing bottles and other objects at police officers. Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic strongly condemned “attacks by participants in the march on Slavija Square against members of the Interior Ministry.” He said he would take all measures to restore public order and that all those who attacked the police would be prosecuted.
Months of nationwide protests, including the closure of universities, have rattled Vucic, a populist whose second term ends in 2027, when parliamentary elections are also scheduled. Vucic's opponents accuse him and his allies of links to organized crime, violence against rivals and curbing media freedoms, something they deny, writes A2 CNN.
Protests by students, the opposition, teachers, workers and farmers began last December after 16 people died on November 1 when the roof of the Novi Sad railway station collapsed. Protesters blame corruption for the disaster. (A2 Televizion)
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