Massive Belgrade protest escalates with tear gas and arrests, signalling deep crisis for Vučić’s regime

On Saturday (28 June) an estimated 140,000 protesters flooded Belgrade to demand snap elections and accountability for systemic corruption, sparked by the November 2024 Novi Sad train station collapse that killed 16 people.

Belgrade’s streets swelled with approximately 140,000 protesters, according to the independent Archive of Public Assemblies, far exceeding the police estimate of 36,000, in a powerful display of defiance against President Aleksandar Vučić’s regime.

The rally, initially sparked by the November 2024 collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad that claimed 16 lives, evolved into a broader movement demanding snap elections and an end to entrenched corruption. Clashes involving tear gas, batons, and arrests near Pioneer Park and the Serbian Parliament underscored the escalating tensions, signaling a critical challenge to Vučić’s 12-year authoritarian rule.

A movement fuelled by outrage

The protest was led by university students, united diverse groups – farmers, veterans, bikers, and urban professionals – under the rallying cry “We want elections!”.

Demonstrators waved Serbian flags and carried banners naming cities nationwide, reflecting widespread discontent. Belgrade University Rector Vladan Jokić addressed the crowd at Slavija Square, framing the gathering as a defence of democratic and academic values eroded by Vučić’s regime.

“This crisis engulfs a nation that devalues knowledge, culture, and institutions,” Jokić declared, praising the students’ resilience against arrests, interrogations, and attacks. He emphasized unity as a force against division, stating, “Our quiet struggle will erode their power, bringing lasting victory.”

The Novi Sad tragedy, widely attributed to corruption in a Chinese-led renovation project overseen by Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), has galvanized public anger. Protesters demanded transparency, the release of all related documents, and prosecution of those responsible, rejecting the government’s partial disclosures as inadequate.

Escalation and clashes

The initially peaceful rally turned volatile as protesters approached Pioneer Park and the Serbian Parliament, where Vučić’s supporters, including suspected former paramilitary members, had camped with tractors as makeshift barricades.

Unidentified masked men, possibly provocateurs, clashed with police, prompting riot officers to deploy tear gas and batons. Protesters formed a human chain, chanting “Lower your shields!” to de-escalate, but police pushed back, arresting dozens. Police Director Dragan Vasilević reported six officers and two civilians injured, claiming “minimal force” was used to detain “hooligans.” The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) condemned restrictions on journalists, with several outlets barred from covering the event near Parliament.

Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić escalated rhetoric, accusing students of inciting “civil war” with their St. Vitus Day rally, a charge they rejected. The student group Students in Blockade countered on X, blaming the government for radicalising the situation through repression and inaction: “The authorities chose violence over meeting our demands.” The NGO Civic Initiative demanded an immediate halt to force against protesters, highlighting the regime’s reliance on coercion.

Implications for Vučić’s regime

The 28 June protest marks a pivotal moment for Vučić’s regime, exposing its vulnerability as public trust erodes. The scale of the rally – potentially Serbia’s largest ever – signals a breaking point after years of alleged corruption, media control, and electoral manipulation.

The Novi Sad disaster, coupled with incidents like the January 2025 beating of students by SNS supporters, has unified diverse societal groups, amplifying demands for systemic reform. Vučić’s concessions, including the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević in January (yet to be ratified), have failed to quell unrest, as protesters view them as superficial.

Vučić’s refusal to call early elections, combined with his claims of Western-backed “color revolutions,” risks further alienating citizens. His reliance on pro-government media and loyalist counterprotesters, including suspected ultranationalists, underscores a defensive strategy that may backfire.

The protest’s broad support, including from war veterans and rural communities, suggests a societal shift, with polls indicating growing opposition to the SNS ahead of the 2026 election. The EU’s muted response, criticized by MEPs for prioritizing economic ties like Serbia’s lithium deal with Rio Tinto, further isolates Vučić internationally.

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With BGNES and Beta, edited by g.g.

Caption: Unidentified masked men, possibly provocateurs, clashed with police, prompting riot officers to deploy tear gas and batons, Belgrade, Serbia, 28 June 2025. University students are demanding accountability and calling on early elections after sixteen people died when the canopy of the newly renovated Novi Sad Railway Station collapsed on 1 November 2024. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC