- 80 cyclists crossed 4 countries in 13 days to reach EU headquarters
- Protests sparked by fatal infrastructure collapse linked to corruption
- Government accuses demonstrators of foreign-backed coup attempts
- EU maintains cautious stance despite democratic backsliding concerns
Nearly 80 Serbian university students completed an extraordinary 1,300-kilometer cycling protest this week, arriving at the European Parliament to denounce systemic corruption under President Aleksandar Vucic's administration. The marathon journey from Belgrade to Strasbourg represents an escalation of months-long demonstrations that began after a train station canopy collapse killed 16 people last November - an incident investigators blame on construction contract fraud.
The cyclists averaged 110 kilometers daily through challenging weather conditions, drawing international attention to Serbia's deteriorating press freedoms and judicial independence. Their arrival in Strasbourg coincided with fresh demonstrations at state-controlled media headquarters in Novi Sad, where protesters condemned what they call 'censorship of police brutality incidents'.
Regional analysts note the protest movement's sophisticated organizational tactics, including real-time route tracking through encrypted messaging apps. This digital-native approach has enabled sustained momentum despite government claims of Western intelligence involvement. 'They're rewriting the playbook for civic resistance in hybrid regimes,' said Balkan policy expert Dr. Lana Petrović, referencing similar tech-enabled movements in Moldova and North Macedonia.
The EU's muted response reflects strategic dilemmas in Balkan diplomacy. While European Commission reports detail Serbia's democratic regression, officials continue fast-tracking infrastructure investments under the €30 billion Global Gateway initiative. This contradiction highlights the bloc's struggle to balance democratic values with geopolitical realities in Russia-aligned states.
Student organizers plan to present documented cases of academic repression during meetings with Council of Europe representatives. Multiple professors face disciplinary action for supporting demonstrations, including philosophy lecturer Marko Jovanović, whose recent dismissal sparked campus walkouts. 'When they silence teachers, they erase our future,' cycling participant Ana Milenković told supporters in Strasbourg.
The protests' longevity contrasts with previous Serbian movements through decentralized leadership structures. Rather than centralized committees, neighborhood WhatsApp groups coordinate daily action plans - a model that helped sustain momentum during winter lockdowns. This approach recently inspired similar anti-corruption bicycle protests in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where students rode from Sarajevo to EU offices in Zagreb.
As Strasbourg officials review the cyclists' evidence package, all eyes turn to June's EU-Western Balkans summit. With Serbia's membership talks effectively frozen since 2022, protesters hope their physical sacrifice will pressure Brussels to enforce accession criteria more rigorously. However, diplomatic sources suggest energy security concerns may continue overshadowing governance issues in negotiations.
