Anti-government protests in Belgrade on Saturday ended with clashes between police and demonstrators, AP reports.

Thousands of citizens filled the streets of the city waving banners and wearing T-shirts with the slogan “Students win”, the motto of the student movement that organized the rally.

The protest initially started peacefully, but the situation escalated in the evening hours, when groups of demonstrators threw stones and pyrotechnic devices at law enforcement, while police intervened to disperse the crowd and establish control.

Protesting students are demanding early elections and strengthening the rule of law, accusing the government of corruption and ties to crime.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has tried to curb mass demonstrations that are challenging his rule.

He reacted on Saturday through a video published on Instagram, where accused the protesters of violent behavior and said they “cannot tolerate political opponents”.

However, Vucic stressed that “the state is functioning” and that institutions will continue to act “in accordance with the law”.

Meanwhile, Serbia’s state railway company canceled all train lines to and from Belgrade, in what was seen as an attempt to prevent the arrival of protesters from cities others.

Saturday’s rally is the latest in a wave of anti-government demonstrations that have continued for more than a year.

They started after the tragedy in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, when the roof of a railway station collapsed, killing 16 people.

Source: prizrenpost