140,000 Protesters Rally Belgrade Demand Early Elections

Around 140,000 protesters, led primarily by university students, rallied in Belgrade demanding early parliamentary elections and the resignation of President Aleksandar Vucic amid nearly eight months of unrest triggered by the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad, which killed 16 people and was widely blamed on government corruption and negligence. The large turnout marked the largest in recent months despite government crackdowns, media suppression, and pro-Vucic counter-rallies. Demonstrators chanted for elections and staged blockades while clashing with riot police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades, leading to multiple arrests. Vucic rejected calls for snap elections, accused protesters of foreign interference, and warned against violence, pledging to defend the country and bring justice to those he labeled as thugs. The protests have expanded beyond student activists to include citizens from various backgrounds dissatisfied with Vucic's long-standing control over media, judiciary, and police, as well as his strengthening ties with Russia and China despite official EU accession ambitions. The movement continues to demand accountability, transparency, and democratic reforms, insisting they will persist until their demands are met.