In Belgrade, over 20 individuals have been taken into custody for allegedly attacking law enforcement and vandalizing property.
President Aleksandar Vucic commended the police force for their “responsible” handling of the over 80,000 demonstrators. He stated that they maintained order and public safety during the anti-government demonstration in the capital, which resulted in violence, 56 injuries, and 22 arrests.
Authorities estimate that between 88,000 and 107,000 individuals participated in Saturday’s rally, which has been described as one of the largest in recent Serbian history. Vucic accused certain individuals within the largely peaceful crowd of attempting a “color revolution,” and he alleged foreign powers were attempting to destabilize the country.
Vucic reported that violence broke out when “several dozen people in an intoxicated state” allegedly attacked police officers and others near the presidential building in Pionirski Park. Security forces arrested 22 people for allegedly attacking officers and damaging property.
“We did not even raise a baton,” Vucic asserted. He also denied that sonic crowd control weapons were used against the protesters, clarifying that the device mentioned was a standard anti-drone rifle.
The demonstration follows months of student-led protests against alleged corruption and government negligence in Serbia, which were triggered by a fatal canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024, resulting in 15 deaths.
Vucic maintains that the protests are politically motivated and designed to destabilize Serbia.
“We managed to preserve peace and stability, and I congratulate our security forces for their serious and responsible approach,” he stated.