Serbia Arrests 37 After Belgrade Clashes Between Protesters, Govt Supporters

Serbian police arrested 37 people following violent clashes between supporters of President Aleksandar Vučić's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and anti-government protesters near the parliament building in Belgrade. The unrest coincided with the anniversary of a deadly Novi Sad train station roof collapse in 2024 that killed 16 people, fueling demands for accountability and snap parliamentary elections. Protesters, led by hunger striker Dijana Hrka whose son died in the collapse, called for interrogation and trial of suspects, the release of detained student protesters, and early elections. The confrontation escalated when pro-government SNS supporters from a long-standing tent camp, known as "Caciland," attacked demonstrators with rocks, fireworks, and loud music, while police were criticized for limited intervention. Among those detained was former national basketball team captain Vladimir Stimac, accused of inciting violence, though his lawyer denounced the charges as politically motivated repression. The protests underscore growing public frustration with Vučić's government over allegations of corruption, negligence, and authoritarianism undermining democratic freedoms in Serbia.