Serbian Police Clash with 100,000 Protesters Demanding Vucic Resignation

Tens of thousands of protesters, led by university students, gathered in Belgrade demanding early elections and the resignation of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic amid months of unrest sparked by a deadly train station collapse blamed on government corruption. The protests, calling for an end to Vucic's 12-year rule, saw clashes with riot police who used tear gas, pepper spray, and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators, resulting in dozens of arrests and injuries on both sides. Vucic, accused of authoritarianism and strengthening ties with Russia and China, dismissed the protests as foreign-backed attempts to destabilize Serbia and labeled student activists as terrorists. Supporters of Vucic have camped in the city as a human shield around his headquarters, leading to confrontations with protesters. The movement, which began in late 2024, remains focused on corruption and governance issues rather than geopolitical alignments related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Despite the government's resistance, demonstrators continue to demand snap elections as the only solution to the country's social and political crisis.