Serbian Autocratic President Faces Second Day Of Protests

Clashes erupted betwixt Serbian anti-government protesters and supporters for a 2nd time successful a important escalation that has near dozens injured, constabulary said connected Thursday, August 14, aft much than 9 months of rallies against autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic.

The activity of anti-corruption protests was sparked successful November 2024, erstwhile nan illness of nan Novid Sad railroad position tile near 16 dead. The calamity was blamed connected wide authorities corruption.

According to nan Guardian, nan student-led protesters gathered successful respective cities crossed Serbia precocious connected Wednesday for a 2nd consecutive night. In this instance, they were chiefly protesting against an onslaught by ruling statement supporters connected demonstrators successful nan municipality of Vrbas, astir 160km (100 miles) northbound of nan capital, Belgrade.

Calling for return of rule and order

The president’s supporters many times hurled flares astatine protesters successful Novi Sad, adjacent nan offices of Vucic’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party. Protesters past smashed agency windows arsenic riot constabulary were deployed extracurricular to defender nan building, AP reported.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said astatine slightest 1 policeman was injured and called for nan “return of rule and order.”

Thousands of demonstrators gathered successful different parts of nan country, including Belgrade, wherever riot constabulary utilized tear state to disperse groups of anti-government demonstrators.

Riot constabulary separated 2 opposing camps successful nan cardinal municipality of Kraljevo. Demonstrations were besides held successful nan cardinal towns of Kragujevac and Cacak, and nan confederate metropolis of Nis. 

Pro and anti-government protesters clashed

Pro-government news outlets said that Vucic arrived connected Wednesday evening astatine a campy of his supporters extracurricular nan presidency building successful downtown Belgrade, successful an evident show of defiance. He described nan anti-Vucic protesters arsenic “thugs.”

AP described scenes successful Vrbas of authorities supporters throwing flares, rocks and bottles astatine nan protesters, who hurled backmost respective objects. Police said that dozens of group were wounded, including 16 constabulary officers. 

Serbia is officially requesting European Union membership, but Vucic maintains adjacent ties pinch Russia and China. He faces accusations of stifling antiauthoritarian freedoms since coming to powerfulness 13 years ago.