Serbs protest against police violence in response to Novi Sad clashes

On the evening of Saturday (6 September), thousands of students and citizens took to the streets across Serbia in a series of protests dubbed “Backbone Against Violence,” sparked by escalating police brutality during riots in Novi Sad the previous day.

The protests were triggered by violent clashes in Novi Sad on 5 September, where police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters who blamed corruption for the 1 November 2024 Novi Sad railway station disaster and demanded snap vote they hope would oust President Aleksandar Vučić and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

The Saturday demonstrations, organised by student groups and supported by local communities, occurred in cities including Belgrade, Čačak, Kragujevac, Leskovac, Novi Sad, Subotica, Valjevo, and others, condemning excessive police force and demanding accountability.

Belgrade: a focal point of dissent

In Belgrade, the protest began around 8:00 p.m. outside the “29 November” police station on Despota Stefana Boulevard. By 8:45 p.m., demonstrators blocked the street, chanting slogans and displaying banners condemning police actions. According to Radio Television Serbia (RTS), the gathering remained largely peaceful, though tensions were high following the Novi Sad incidents.

Kragujevac: march from the campus

In Kragujevac, protesters rallied under the slogan “March from the Campus” to show solidarity with Novi Sad’s demonstrators. Gathering at 7:00 p.m. in Student Square near the First High School, the crowd marched behind a banner reading, “Your end is near—beware, crazy heads are coming from the heart of Šumadija.” The procession paused outside the Kragujevac police station on Svetozar Markovića Street, where demonstrators protested peacefully into the night, with no reported incidents.

Leskovac: a silent tribute

In Leskovac, citizens and students honored victims of a tragic canopy collapse at a Novi Sad train station, observing 16 minutes of silence outside the local police station. Holding signs with the victims’ names, protesters chanted, “Who are you beating?” and “Your badges are bloody,” while displaying banners reading “Whoever beats, thinks evil” and “We remember.” The march continued peacefully to the Serbian Progressive Party’s local headquarters.

Čačak: tensions and an attack on RTS cameraman

The protest in Čačak began at 7:00 p.m. outside the local police station, with Tsara Dušana Street closed to traffic. Demonstrators used whistles and vuvuzelas to amplify their message. However, the event was marred when several protesters attacked RTS cameraman Bobiša Bržaković while he filmed the march. RTS, widely regarded as a pro-government broadcaster, has faced criticism for its biased coverage of the protests, often portraying demonstrators negatively while downplaying police actions.

Nationwide solidarity

Protests also took place in Loznica, Šabac, Valjevo, Sremska Mitrovica, Zrenjanin, Arandželovac, and Smederevo, with start times ranging from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Students leading the blockades used social media to mobilize support, declaring, “We will not forgive Novi Sad. We will see you at the rally, all together.” The demonstrations were largely peaceful, though the attack in Čačak highlighted underlying tensions.

Protests in Serbia over the November 2024 Novi Sad train station canopy collapse were mainly peaceful until 13 August when dozens of civilians and police officers were injured in clashes. Vučić has accused foreign security services of being behind anti-government protesters.

The protests continue to gain momentum, but the demonstrators have yet to articulate a clear vision for their desired political future.

Other sources: Beta, Balkan Insight, Euronews Serbia, edited by g.g.

Caption: Protesters face riot police during a demonstration against police brutality in Novi Sad, Serbia, 05 September 2025. The university students’ protests initially sparked by the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse on 01 November 2024 have since grown into demands for early elections. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC