The renowned French paper “Le Monde” writes about the “historic day of anger” in Serbia: “The Saturday demonstration was like those of the 1990s that led to the fall of erstwhile dictator Slobodan Milosević in 2000.”
— We went out on the streets to express our complete discontent after years of dictatorship, lawlessness and corruption,” says 28-year-old Ognjen Djordjević of Belgrade, who took part in the protests.
— It's magical. This is Serbia, the real Serbia we want, says 70-year-old demonstrators Moma Milanovic.
Bottles and stones flew
Protests that have been going on for months have been triggered by the disastrous collapse of the fresh Sad railway station on 1 November last year. 15 people died at the time. Demonstrators accuse the government of corruption and related negligence that led to tragedy.
Critics claim that Vucic bases his power on corrupt clienteleist networks, restricts media freedom and falsifies elections. Judicial control allows the president to regulation against the law.
A fewer hours before the rally began on Saturday, March 15, the streets along a two-mile demonstration way were already filled. Students, farmers and citizens marched together towards the centre of the capital of Serbia, Belgrade.
In central Slavija Square, the crowd chanted: “Pump! Pump!” (“Pump! Pump!”), which was an expression of the protest movement not letting go. Many wore badges with bloody hands, which became a symbol of the demonstration, along with the inscription “corruption kills!”.
However, not all Protestants came for peaceful purposes. Government supporters — including ultranationalists, suspected hooligans and members of paramilitary groups — were besides mobilised. They erected barricades close parliament and set tents in front of the presidential palace.
The clashes broke out last night. Bottles and stones flew. A group of students called for their supporters to withdraw.
At the same time The car driver deliberately drove into a crowd of demonstrators in the confederate suburbs of Belgrade. Police say 3 young people were injured.
DAKIC/SIPA/SIPA/East News / East Newsevidence protest in downtown Belgrade, March 15, 2025.
Is Vucic aiming for a riot?
— The government may intentionally provoke force to have an excuse to introduce a state of emergency, warns Serbian safety expert Srdjan Cvijic.
In the state media, students are already talking about the "test of coup".
President Vucic himself stated at a press conference: "Everyone in the government must realize the messageWhen so many people gather together. We will gotta change." At the same time, however, he stressed that 99% of demonstrators behaved peacefully.
According to the Serbian Ministry of the Interior, a full of six people were arrested who allegedly planned to “action against constitutional order”.
"The fresh York Times" reports that Donald Trump Jr, the boy of the president of the United States, met with president Vucici during an unofficial visit to Belgrade on Tuesday 11 March. The Serbian president is likely to feel an even more built-up solution to the U.S. USAID relief organization. According to The fresh York Times, this organization funded groups that documented election fraud and another abuses in Serbia.
There have been rumors for weeks that president Vucic may flee to a close country if the situation in Serbia becomes heated.
His good relations with Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan are well known. However, it is improbable that he would flee to neighbouring Hungary or another EU country, as his assets would most likely be confiscated there.
