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From the streets of Belgrade, the cracks in President Aleksandar Vučić’s near-decade-long authoritarian grip on power have become impossible to ignore. After more than four months of largely peaceful student-led protests, frustration with the regime appears to have reached breaking point.
The country is gearing up for a massive anti-government protest today, as thousands of students and citizens prepare to rally against the Serbian administration. Many residents describe the capital as feeling “under siege”, with the authorities implementing extreme measures that critics argue are designed to intimidate and prevent people from attending the demonstration.
The state railway company, Srbijavoz, abruptly suspended all inter-city train services, citing anonymous bomb threats as the official reason. There have also been reports of inter-city buses to Belgrade being cancelled, and even rumours that farm tractors and lorries have been deployed to barricade key roads leading into the capital. These unprecedented measures have sparked criticism, with many people arguing that the government is essentially locking down Belgrade in an attempt to suppress the protest movement.
Despite these efforts, convoys of students and supporters from across Serbia have been finding alternative ways to reach Belgrade. Many groups, undeterred by the government’s tactics, set out days in advance on foot or by bicycle, determined to be part of what they expect to be a historic rally.
At the same time, western diplomats are urging Serbia’s leadership to ensure the protest remains peaceful and that the safety of participants is guaranteed, warning that any attempts to suppress the demonstrations could escalate tensions domestically and internationally.
In stark contrast to the diplomats’ appeals for calm, Vučić and his government have been framing the 15 March gathering as a powder keg ready to explode. For days, officials have ominously warned that clashes are inevitable, even suggesting that the demonstrators might attack police or attempt to violently storm the parliament.
This relentless drumbeat of alarmist rhetoric from the government has been used to justify a heavy-handed response, with a strong police presence and pre-emptive security measures encircling Belgrade. These actions serve not only to heighten tensions but also to send a clear message of intimidation, painting the protesters as a threat to national stability, while bolstering the government’s narrative of control.
The trigger for all of this was the deadly collapse, late last year, of a concrete canopy at the refurbished main railway station in Novi Sad, 50 miles north-west of Belgrade, which claimed the lives of 15 people. The tragic incident sparked mass protests across Serbia, becoming a symbol of something far deeper: a system where corruption, inefficiency and political cronyism are deeply entrenched.
While claims of rampant corruption are widespread, they are often difficult to fully prove, with critics pointing to opaque government contracts, political patronage and a lack of transparency as troubling signs. Nevertheless, the judiciary is widely seen as compromised, the press is under constant attack and civil society faces harassment. In this environment, protests are no longer just about specific grievances – they represent a desperate call for a future free from the grip of autocrats and their cronies.
The unexpected eruption of student outrage is not just about a single incident – it reflects the deep frustration of a generation that feels abandoned and betrayed by the same political elite that has held power for too long. What we are witnessing now is an unprecedented wave of new-age opposition, amplified through creative use of social media, and snowballing through the towns and villages of Serbia.
The scale and persistence of these protests signal that the country is at a crossroads, with Vučić, once seen as untouchable, now facing a genuine challenge to his authority. However, despite the widespread unrest, the west continues to court Serbia’s controversial leader under the banner of keeping the country on the “EU path”. And perhaps for good reason.
As much as there is to criticise about Vučić’s rule, there is no clear or viable alternative should his leadership falter. The political opposition is fragmented, often more focused on infighting than presenting a cohesive vision for the future.
Yet the EU continues to engage with Vučić as if he were a reasonable partner, overlooking critical issues that should raise alarms. It turns a blind eye to his close ties with Vladimir Putin, the growing Chinese economic stranglehold on Serbian infrastructure, and the fact that Serbia’s energy giant, NIS, remains majority-owned by Russian interests – despite supposed EU sanctions.
This apparent contradiction in EU policy raises questions about the bloc’s true commitment to its values and its long-term strategy in the region, particularly when pragmatic alliances seem to take precedence over the ideals of democratic governance and geopolitical stability.
On one side, the Serbian government’s behaviour and lockdown tactics project an atmosphere of impending turmoil. On the other, the protesters – bolstered by moral support from abroad – are steadfast in their commitment to non-violence.
Many people in Belgrade are hopeful that the day will unfold peacefully, defying the ominous predictions of violence. But given the tense buildup, all eyes will be watching how the authorities respond and whether freedom of assembly is upheld in practice.
While Serbia’s relationship with Moscow may be viewed as part of efforts to balance its historic ties to Russia with aspirations for EU and Nato membership, it also raises questions about the leadership’s true priorities. Under Vučić’s rule, Serbia has seen increasing authoritarian tendencies. These actions only deepen suspicions about his long-term priorities and intentions. If history has taught us anything, it’s that overlooking the Balkans often leads to unintended and far-reaching consequences.
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Brent Sadler is a former CNN journalist and a founder of the CNN affiliate 24-hour News Channel N1, based in Belgrade, Serbia
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