President Aleksandar Vučić urged university students on Saturday to reject blockades and continue normal academic activities as Serbia witnessed a sharp escalation in street protests, police tear‑gas deployments and a high‑profile injury to a local mayor.
Government response
Speaking at a televised address, Vučić delivered a forceful message to student demonstrators, emphasizing the need to protect the country’s stability.
"A true Serbian feels the nation threatened when his country is under attack," he said, adding that any attempts to disrupt education would be "counter‑productive to Serbia’s future."The president’s remarks were reported by the tabloid Kurir, which highlighted his call for students to resist “blockaderima, plenumima i” (blockades and plenums) that have been organizing across campuses.
Protest dynamics
Since early May, a wave of protests has swept major Serbian cities, driven primarily by students and a coalition of opposition parties that accuse the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of eroding democratic institutions. Demonstrators have set up blockades at several public universities, demanding greater autonomy for academic institutions and protesting alleged corruption in university administration.
According to the online portal Informer, a state‑funded university was observed openly promoting the blockades, raising questions about the use of public resources to support the protests. The outlet asked, “How can this happen and who is financing it?” and noted that “no one reacted yesterday” to the university’s apparent endorsement of the blockade tactics.
Police have responded with crowd‑control measures, including the use of tear‑gas canisters. Video footage compiled by the news site 021.rs showed the mayor of the municipality of Sen Denija—identified in local reports as Danijel Denija—being struck in the eye by a tear‑gas projectile while attempting to shield demonstrators from police. The mayor was taken to a hospital for treatment, though officials declined to comment on his condition.
Opposition leaders have condemned the police response as excessive, calling for an end to the use of chemical agents against peaceful protestors. Student groups, meanwhile, argue that the blockades are a legitimate form of civil disobedience aimed at drawing attention to what they describe as a “politicisation of higher education.”
Government spokespeople have not issued an official statement regarding the mayor’s injury or the allegations that a public university is backing the protests. However, the president’s public appeal underscores the administration’s intent to frame the unrest as a threat to national cohesion and to pressure students to resume regular classes.
The situation remains fluid. Analysts note that the protests could influence upcoming local elections and Serbia’s relationship with the European Union, which has repeatedly urged Belgrade to respect democratic norms and protect the right to peaceful assembly. International observers are watching closely as the government balances calls for order with mounting criticism over its handling of dissent.
