Belgrade Streets See Clashes Between Protesters and Government Backers (VIDEOS)

Rival demonstrations took place in Serbia on the anniversary of a deadly railway station accident.

On Sunday, supporters and opponents of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and his governing SNS party clashed in Belgrade, marking a year since the train station canopy collapse that killed 16 and triggered widespread protests.

The protesters, many of whom are university students, are demanding accountability for the November 1, 2024, tragedy in Novi Sad, and have accused the government of corruption and poor management.

Dijana Hrka, whose son died in the collapse, led a gathering outside the Serbian parliament. Meanwhile, government supporters and students against the protesters’ university blockades rallied in Pionirski Park, where they’ve been camping since March.

Despite police trying to keep them apart, sporadic clashes erupted between the opposing groups. RT Balkan reported that bottles and firecrackers were thrown. Police reported one arrest.

Serbia’s Interior Ministry blamed the violence on “an organized group” within the anti-government protesters, stating that a tent in Pionirski Park was set ablaze. Supporters of the student blockade movement claimed that pro-SNS activists initiated the throwing of projectiles.

Vucic, who has consistently claimed the protests are being fueled by foreign entities, denied that his supporters were responsible for the clashes. He told Informer TV on Sunday that “The blockaders can’t tolerate democracy or differing opinions.” Vucic mentioned that several SNS offices have been set on fire since 2024.

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