Thousands protest in streets in Belgrade for anti-government demonstration

(MENAFN) Tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Belgrade on Saturday in a large-scale protest against the Serbian government, an event some Western media have described as possibly the biggest in the country’s history. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic claimed the unrest was an attempt to incite a "color revolution."

To prevent potential disturbances, Serbia’s parliament announced on Friday that its building would remain closed over the weekend. The measure was taken “exclusively for security reasons” to ensure the demonstration in front of the National Assembly proceeded without major incidents, according to an official statement.

Social media footage showed massive crowds waving Serbian national flags, blowing whistles, and chanting anti-government slogans in central Belgrade. Police estimated that approximately 107,000 people participated in the demonstration, with many traveling from other parts of Serbia to join. Law enforcement reported no significant disruptions to public order.

However, the protest did cause major traffic congestion, and one alarming incident occurred when a car plowed through the crowd, injuring at least three people. A video circulating online captured the vehicle speeding away with one protester clinging to its hood before falling onto the pavement. Authorities later arrested the driver, and officials confirmed that the injured sustained only minor wounds.

The protests stem from months of student-led demonstrations over alleged corruption and government mismanagement. The movement was sparked by a deadly incident in November 2024, when the collapse of a concrete canopy at the Novi Sad railway station resulted in 15 fatalities. Public outrage grew as protesters demanded full transparency and accountability from the government regarding the disaster.

President Vucic claimed on Friday that his administration had already met key demands, including offering snap elections and a referendum, yet opposition forces continued to push for more. He insisted their true goal was not reform but rather to orchestrate a "color revolution" in Serbia.

Vucic has previously accused foreign entities of fueling the unrest, alleging that opposition groups are collaborating with Western, Croatian, and Albanian intelligence services in an effort to destabilize the country.

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