Clashes erupted between protesters and riot police following an antigovernment rally in Belgrade, Serbia, where large crowds gathered to demand political reforms. Many attendees carried banners and wore T-shirts featuring the slogan “Students win,” championed by the youth movement that organized the event. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who has been criticized for his hardline approach to dissent, is facing significant opposition more than a year after protests ignited over accountability related to a tragic train station collapse that resulted in the deaths of 16 individuals in November 2024. The rally’s turnout underscored ongoing public dissatisfaction, as demonstrators reiterated calls for early elections and the restoration of rule of law amidst allegations of government corruption. The authorities took measures to limit attendance by canceling train services to the capital. In response to the unrest, Vucic, while en route to a state visit in China, condemned the protesters as violent and affirmed that the government would operate within legal boundaries.
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