Protesters and opposition see active cooperation between police and violent supporters of the Serbian president. However, analysts find it unlikely to declare emergency situation. Mass protests against President Aleksandar Vucic’s government in Serbia continue. Violent conflicts broke out again during actions requested by students from all over the country on August 14th.

In the capital, Belgrade, violent scenes unfolded around the Serbian government. Initially, a police officer removed the protesting citizens from a Vucic Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) office.

Later security forces retired – and masked men who identified themselves as SNS activists attacked fireworks, confirming what the opposition protesters and parties have long accused the Serbian authorities:

In addition to the demonstrations involving between 300,000 and 500,000, students occupied universities across Serbia. Hundreds of protesters, mostly young people, organized marches across the country and traveled abroad to seek support, including from the European Union in Strasbourg.

Dusic offices were destroyed

The reason for the mobilizations was what happened on Friday, November 1, 2024 at 11:52 am, when the recently renovated central railway station collapsed in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, killing 15 people. Experts believe that the cause of the disaster was the construction work, which were made in disrepair due to corruption in the assignment and execution of public procurement.

There was no police in Novi Sad itself for a long time on the night of August 14, 2025 – although the protesters completely demolished two SNS local offices. In other Serbian cities, there were individual clashes with police officers who used tear gas to dismantle the demonstrations.

Violence against demonstrators

On August 12, violent clashes also broke out in northern Serbia. SNS masked activists attacked protesters. Police initially separated the two sides, but then retreated and passively watched Vucic’s supporters threaten the protesters.

In response to new clashes in the cities of Vrba and Batska Palanka, which injured more than 70 citizens and 16 police officers, demonstrations were held throughout Serbia, where turmoil continued.

Attacks in coordination with the police?

The most violent conflicts were noted in Novi Sad. Once again, groups of masked people attacked protesters. Followed by scenes that looked like football hooligan matches: flares, crackers, cannibalism, fireworks, metal and wooden bats – the entire arsenal of government supporters developed.

There is no official number of injured, but it is estimated that more than 100 citizens and more than 50 police officers have been injured in the last three days. Students and protesters claim that the attacks on demonstrations were coordinated with the police. Not even a regime activist was arrested during the turmoil – although Vucic’s supporters seem to have started most of the conflict and attacked fireworks with protesters.

Blackmail through the threat of civil war

President Vucic “wanted to show his voters that he is still strong, hiring paid criminals,” says Philip Schimm, editor -in -chief of the independent Vreme magazine of Belgrade. He observes a “de facto dismantling of the police, which did nothing more than protect the regime’s barbs,” the journalist told DW, who is watching political developments in Serbia from the wars that followed the dissolution of Yugoslavia.

“Vucic has lost the majority of the population,” says political analyst Dragomir Angelkovic, “and now blackmail Serbia with a civil war.” For months, Vucic has repeatedly reiterated that the only alternative to his rule would be a war in the country.

“The president and his supporters create an atmosphere of fear so that people think: It is better to continue to rule Vucic than to have war,” Antzelkovic warns in an interview with DW. At the same time, there is a shift in responsibility: Government officials are trying to accuse students and protesting citizens of all that their supporters do.

Emergency Status?

Will Vucic use the turmoil and arrests of protesters to preach an emergency? According to analysts, this will primarily intensify resistance – and will certainly have an impact on prestigious projects that President Vucic has stated that they are his … favorites, such as the Expo 2027, scheduled to take place in Belgrade. Foreign investment will also be at risk.

At present, the government’s reaction to recent conflicts has been limited to threats to legal actions. President Vucic called on the prosecution to take appropriate measures. The prosecutor’s office in turn announced that it would identify all those who have illegally.

Five more people were arrested yesterday in Brbas for involvement in mobilizations. Dragomir Angelkovic said that “we are now experiencing the moment of truth. Now we will see if there are people in the judiciary and the police who are not willing to do everything the regime orders them. “

Curated by: Costas Argyros