Serbia protests erupt in Belgrade as crackdown fuels election calls
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Violent clashes in Belgrade highlight Serbia’s deepening political crisis, as protesters demand early elections after weeks of unrest and police repression.
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Serbian gendarmerie officers guard a street during an anti-government protest near the Serbian Progressive Party office in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 (AP)
Violent clashes between thousands of anti-government protesters and police erupted again in Serbia's capital on Friday, as days of unrest fueled fears of a worsening crackdown on the months-long movement demanding early elections.
Following a tense stand-off between right-wing government loyalists and the larger crowd of protesters, an AFP journalist in the midst of the demonstration reported that fireworks, tear gas, and stun grenades were unleashed among the anti-graft demonstrators.
The violent clashes in central Belgrade on Friday marked the fourth straight night of unrest between protesters and riot police in Serbia. The tensions erupted after a deadly incident in November, when a railway station roof collapse killed 16 people, sparking near-daily demonstrations, some drawing crowds in the hundreds of thousands.
The tragedy, evolving into a symbol of systemic corruption in the Balkan nation, saw public frustration over demands for a transparent investigation escalate into widespread calls for early elections.
Police repression turns peaceful demonstrations violent
The mostly peaceful demonstrations took a violent turn this week when large groups of pro-government supporters, many wearing masks and some carrying batons and fireworks, launched attacks against protesters.
"I don't want to live in a country of police repression," Zeljko, a 46-year old Serbian from Belgrade told AFP, adding that "They beat the people and protect criminals with crowbars. I came to say we won't accept that."
As violence between the groups culminated in the ransacking of the ruling party's offices in Novi Sad, dozens have been arrested at rallies across the country in recent days.
Opposition MPs and activists have denounced pro-government "thugs" for carrying out brutal attacks, circulating images of severe injuries suffered during the rallies, with multiple videos posted online capturing police officers striking unarmed protesters with batons. A video from Thursday night shows approximately 20 officers encircling and repeatedly striking a man as he lies defenseless on the ground.
Police have denied claims of using excessive force while countering that demonstrators have assaulted officers, citing more than 120 law enforcement personnel injured in the recent nights of unrest.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic addressed journalists on Friday, challenging those who had spent recent days falsely accusing police of brutality to respond to the official injury statistics.
President Aleksandar Vucic has similarly rejected claims that his supporters instigated the violence, instead accusing the anti-corruption movement, which he frequently characterizes as "terrorists". At the same time, protesters interviewed by AFP alleged that police were disproportionately shielding Vucic's backers, systematically arresting members of the student-led demonstration, and creating an uneven enforcement of the law.
