- Saturday’s protest follows months of anti-corruption demonstrations sparked by a deadly infrastructure failure
- Vucic alleges Western-backed plot to overthrow him, threatens crackdown on unrest
- Authorities halt intercity rail service citing security concerns, seen as protest deterrent
- Student-led movements gain momentum with cross-country marches to Belgrade
- Counter-protesters including paramilitary veterans escalate fears of violent clashes
As sunset paints Kalemegdan Fortress crimson, Serbia’s capital simmers with anticipation. Tens of thousands prepare to flood Belgrade’s streets this weekend in what organizers call a defining moment for democratic reform. The rally culminates four months of sustained outrage following a preventable tragedy – the collapse of a train station canopy that claimed 15 lives in Novi Sad last November.
University students emerged as unlikely revolutionaries, cycling 80km from Novi Sad while others marched from Kragujevac’s automobile factories. Their peaceful processions contrast sharply with government warnings about imported violence. ‘They want me gone? Let them try,’ Vucic told state media, flanked by SNS party loyalists. Analysts note the president’s approval ratings dipped below 40% for the first time since 2017.
The railway shutdown raises eyebrows across the Balkans. While Srbijavoz claims bomb threats necessitated service suspension, opposition leader Marinika Tepić counters: ‘This isn’t security – it’s siege mentality.’ Transport experts highlight that Serbia’s rail network received €800 million in Chinese loans since 2020, yet safety inspections remain underfunded.
Regional observers draw parallels to Moldova’s 2015-2016 protests against oligarchic rule. Like Chisinau’s ‘Grand National Assembly,’ Belgrade’s demonstrators blend youth activists with trade unionists. However, Vucic’s strongman persona and Kremlin connections complicate EU mediation efforts. Brussels quietly delayed Chapter 15 accession talks last week, citing ‘democratic backsliding.’
Students like 22-year-old philosophy major Jovana Petrović embody the movement’s resolve. ‘We’re not just fighting a canopy collapse,’ she explains, ‘but the rot beneath it.’ Her mobile clinic team distributed 3,000 gas masks after reports of planned tear gas use. Meanwhile, pensioners’ groups plan solidarity soup kitchens along protest routes – a nod to 1990s anti-Milošević resistance.
As searchlights sweep parliament’s barricaded facade, both sides dig in. Vucic loyalists occupy Pioneer Park with Soviet-era tents and nationalist ballads. Across the Sava River, protest organizers test drone-mounted projectors to bypass state media blackouts. The stage is set for a showdown that could redefine Balkan geopolitics.
