Tensions in Serbia have reached a boiling point as violent clashes between anti-government protesters and police rocked the western town of Valjevo and the capital, Belgrade, on Saturday. Masked demonstrators, chanting slogans against President Aleksandar Vucic, set fire to the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) offices in Valjevo, 100 km from Belgrade, after hurling flares, bottles, and rocks. Riot police responded with tear gas and baton charges, escalating the chaos. Similar scenes unfolded in Belgrade, where protesters ignited garbage containers, prompting heavy police intervention.
The unrest, now in its fifth consecutive night, stems from a November 2024 train station canopy collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16 people, widely blamed on corruption in state infrastructure projects. Initially peaceful, the student-led “Serbia, Wake Up” protests have turned increasingly violent this week, fueled by allegations of police brutality. A viral video showing officers beating a young man in Valjevo earlier this week drew thousands to the streets, with some attacking SNS offices in retaliation. This marks the second assault on SNS facilities this week, following the vandalism of the party’s Novi Sad headquarters on Wednesday.
President Vucic, facing mounting pressure, has rejected demands for early parliamentary elections, accusing protesters of being foreign-backed agitators aiming to “destroy Serbia.” He vowed a crackdown, claiming over 40 police officers and 60 SNS supporters were injured in recent clashes, with nearly 50 arrests nationwide. Police deny brutality allegations, asserting they were attacked first.
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The violence has drawn international concern. Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset urged Serbian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly, emphasizing compliance with European standards. Meanwhile, U.N. human rights experts reported a “troubling pattern of repression,” including excessive police force and arbitrary arrests, since protests surged in June with 140,000 demonstrators in Belgrade.
The protests, initially sparked by the Novi Sad tragedy, have evolved into a broader movement against Vucic’s 13-year rule, accused of stifling democratic freedoms and fostering corruption. Serbia’s pursuit of EU membership is complicated by Vucic’s ties to Russia and China, drawing scrutiny from critics who claim he allows organized crime to flourish—a charge he denies.
In Belgrade, riot police formed cordons to protect SNS offices and pro-government encampments, while in Valjevo, the arson attack caused significant damage. No immediate injury reports emerged, but dozens have been hurt in clashes since Tuesday, including 16 officers in Novi Sad alone. Posts on X reflect public outrage, with some calling the situation a “test of Serbia’s democratic resilience.”
As protests continue, with more planned across cities like Kragujevac and Nis, Serbia faces a deepening political crisis, with Vucic’s refusal to yield intensifying public anger and raising fears of further violence.
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