Fifth night of unrest sees SNS offices set ablaze,
clashes with police, and rising international concern.
Belgrade, Serbia — Anti-government
protests in Serbia escalated dramatically over the weekend as demonstrators
torched offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), prompting
violent clashes with riot police and raising alarms over human rights abuses.
The latest outbreak of unrest marked the fifth
consecutive night of protests in Serbia, which have swept across major cities
since Wednesday.
In Valjevo, a group of masked demonstrators set
fire to the offices of the SNS, the party led by pro-Moscow President
Aleksandar Vučić. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades
to disperse crowds.
Witnesses reported heavy use of force by riot police
in Belgrade and Novi Sad, where video footage shared online appeared to show
officers beating a man on the ground. The Serbian Interior Ministry has denied
allegations of brutality.
International concern quickly mounted. Michael
O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, called on
Serbian authorities to “end arbitrary arrests and de-escalate the situation,”
criticizing what he described as “disproportionate force.”
The violence comes against a backdrop of growing
anger at corruption and mismanagement under Vučić’s 12-year rule. Protests first erupted after the
collapse of a Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, which killed 16 people
and was widely blamed on negligence and corner-cutting.
What began as calls for accountability and
transparency quickly snowballed into a nationwide anti-government movement. At
their peak, demonstrations have drawn hundreds of thousands of people into the
streets.
Until this week, the rallies had remained largely
peaceful. That changed on Wednesday, when pro-government loyalists staged
counter-demonstrations, sparking violent confrontations that have escalated
nightly since.
On Saturday evening, riot police were again
deployed across multiple cities as demonstrators demanded early elections and
an end to Vučić’s rule.
Anger has increasingly focused on symbols of Vučić’s power. Protesters smashed windows at the
headquarters of the Serbian Radical Party, a coalition partner of the SNS, in
addition to setting fire to SNS offices.
Vučić, in a statement on Instagram, condemned the
violence as “an expression of total weakness” and vowed to punish those
responsible. He reiterated his rejection of early elections and accused foreign
powers of orchestrating the unrest.
Russia swiftly voiced support for its Balkan ally.
The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement declaring it “could not remain
unresponsive to what is happening in brotherly Serbia.” It praised Serbian
police for “using lawful methods” to maintain order.
For many Serbians, however, the protests symbolize
frustration with entrenched corruption and the lack of accountability.
Demonstrators argue that state institutions have been hollowed out by Vučić’s dominance and crony networks.
The intensity of the protests and the government’s
heavy-handed response have drawn comparisons to earlier waves of unrest in the
Balkans, when corruption scandals toppled long-serving leaders.
Analysts warn the crisis risks further polarizing
the country, with Vučić’s base rallying behind him even as opposition
activists gain momentum.
While Vučić insists he will not be forced into early
elections, pressure is building both domestically and internationally for a
political compromise that could defuse tensions.
The opposition, meanwhile, vows to continue mobilizing
until their demands are met. “This movement is not just about corruption,” one
protester in Belgrade said. “It’s about dignity, freedom, and the right to live
without fear.”
With fires set in political offices and police
accused of brutality, Serbia faces a volatile new phase in a crisis that shows
no signs of ending.