- 20+ students began 1,200-mile relay from Novi Sad to Brussels
- Protests sparked by deadly infrastructure collapse linked to Chinese-funded projects
- President Vučić accuses activists of foreign-backed 'color revolution' tactics
- EU criticized for muted response to Serbia's democratic backsliding
- Previous cycling protest secured Council of Europe meetings in April
In an extraordinary display of political engagement, Serbian university students have transformed athletic endurance into democratic activism. The 18-day ultra-marathon follows six months of sustained demonstrations against infrastructure corruption exposed by November's tragic canopy collapse that claimed 16 lives. Participants aim to deliver handwritten appeals to EU commissioners, arguing that Brussels prioritizes geopolitical stability over democratic accountability in Balkan nations.
The protest route mirrors Serbia's complex geopolitical positioning – physically moving westward while leadership maintains ties with Moscow and Beijing. Analysts note striking parallels to North Macedonia's 2016 'Colorful Revolution', where youth-led movements successfully challenged corrupt contracting practices. However, Serbia's students face unique challenges navigating EU enlargement fatigue and domestic media largely controlled by Vučić allies.
Three critical insights emerge from this mobilization:
- Youth activists increasingly bypass traditional diplomacy through symbolic physical journeys
- Chinese infrastructure investments create new corruption vectors in developing economies
- EU's 2030 enlargement timeline forces reckoning with hybrid governance models
President Vučić's administration continues framing protests as foreign interference, recently claiming activist 'road blockades' cost Serbia €800 million in economic damage. Independent economists dispute these figures, noting the government simultaneously approved €3.4 billion in no-bid contracts during protest months. The contradiction highlights what Transparency International calls 'selective anti-corruption enforcement' in EU candidate states.
As runners approach Croatian borders, their journey underscores Balkan civil society's evolving tactics. Unlike 1990s protests focused on regime change, today's activists employ targeted demands for institutional reform. The Brussels-bound letter reportedly details case studies of judicial interference and media censorship occurring since EU-mediated Belgrade-Pristina dialogues began in 2020.
EU Parliament Vice-President Heidi Hautala confirmed receiving advance notice of the protest run, stating 'civil society engagement remains crucial during accession processes.' However, students express frustration that previous Strasbourg meetings produced only non-binding resolutions. Their upgraded tactics – swapping bicycles for running shoes – reflect demands for concrete action against Serbia's declining press freedom rankings.
The marathon's success hinges on maintaining domestic momentum while avoiding protest fatigue. Organizers have implemented rotating shifts allowing participants to continue studies remotely – a nod to their 'Books Before Barricades' manifesto. With nightly live streams averaging 50,000 viewers, the movement demonstrates digital-native activism's power to sustain physical protests.
