Protesters demanded accountability for a train station tragedy in Serbia's north and planned to challenge Aleksandar Vucic at upcoming elections. The president faced international scrutiny for his hard-line ways against the demonstrators. The rally took place in Belgrade's Slavija Square, the scene of a huge anti-government protest in March 2025.
An anti-government protester blows a whistle before the first big rally of the year led by Serbia ’s protesting university students who are pushing for major political change s in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic , in Belgrade, Serbia , Saturday, May. 23, 2026.
An anti-government protester holds a flag before the first big rally of the year led by Serbia’s protesting university students who are pushing for major political changes in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, May. 23, 2026. An anti-government protester takess photos of a dog before the first big rally of the year led by Serbia’s protesting university students who are pushing for major political changes in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, May. 23, 2026.
Riot policemen stand by an enclosure for government supporters before the first big rally of the year led by Serbia’s protesting university students who are pushing for major political changes in the Balkan country run by President Aleksandar Vucic, in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday, May. 23, 2026.
Protesters streamed into a central square in the capital, Belgrade, from several directions, many carrying banners and wearing T-shirts inscribed with the “Students win” motto of the youth movement. Columns of cars drove into Belgrade from other Serbian towns earlier in the day. Protester Maja Milas Markovic said students “managed to gather us here with their youth and wonderful energy; I really believe that we have right to live normally.
”demanding accountability for a train station tragedy in Serbia’s north in November 2024 that killed 16 people. Those protests forced then-Prime Minister Milos Vucevic to resign before Vucic pushed back hard against the protesters.
Serbia’s state railway company on Saturday canceled all trains to and from Belgrade, in a bid to stop at least some of the people from coming from other parts of the Balkan country.building that he set up ahead of another big anti-government rally last March as a human shield against protesters. Folk music blared from a fenced area surrounded by riot police in full gear. The Serbian president has faced international scrutiny for his hard-line ways against the demonstrators.
The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, criticized Serbia’s government in a report this week and said he “will monitor the situation closely” on Saturday. Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry but it has nourished close ties with Russia and China. The democratic backsliding under Vucic could cost the countryThe venue on Saturday is Belgrade’s Slavija Square, the scene of a huge anti-government protest in March 2025.
That rally ended in sudden disruption that experts later said — and the government denied — involved Students now say they plan to challenge Vucic at approaching elections later this year or next that they hope will oust the right-wing populist government. Vucic said this week that the ballot could be held between September and November this year.
Vucic, government officials and the pro-government media have branded critics as terrorists and foreign agents who wish to destroy the country — rhetoric that has ramped up political polarization.
Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic Students Rally Political Change Train Station Tragedy International Scrutiny Students Win Motto Serbian Prime Minister Pro-Government Media Serbia's State Railway Company Human Shield Case Riot Police European Union Entry International Commissioner For Human Rights Ballot Rhetoric Political Polarization Serbian Towns
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