Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Belgrade to mark a four-month-old student-led uprising against President Aleksandar Vučić’s rule, sparking tensions and fuelling conspiracy theories.
Vučić had stoked the flames by suggesting an “imported revolution” involving Western intelligence agencies, but no evidence backed his claims. The protests have been largely peaceful, focusing on corruption and incompetence within the government.
On Thursday, hundreds of government supporters gathered in Pionirski Park, while protesters assembled in Slavija Square. Police blocked off the Vučić supporters from the protesters. Some city services were suspended due to security concerns, which analysts saw as an attempt to limit the protest’s size.
Western governments, including the EU and UN, urged the government to respect peaceful protests. Donald Trump’s son Don Jr echoed Vučić’s unsubstantiated claims about foreign funding, fuelling conspiracy theories.
The protests began after a railway station collapse in Novi Sad killed 15 people, sparking outrage over government mishandling of construction projects. Students have been leading demands for better governance and fair service without corruption or bribes.
They’ve adopted a decentralized approach to decision-making, distancing themselves from opposition parties blamed for public sector decay.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/mar/15/serbians-stage-huge-protest-in-belgrade-against-their-president