At least 100,000 people took to the streets of Belgrade on Saturday in what has been described as Serbia’s largest-ever anti-government protest. The rally, driven by university students leading months-long demonstrations against President Aleksandar Vucic, saw tensions escalate as police reportedly deployed a LRAD sonic cannon against demonstrators.
According to broadcaster Visegrad 24, the device, which emits an ear-splitting sound of up to 160 decibels, was used while students held a 15-minute silence to honour the victims of a fatal train station collapse that sparked the movement. One unverified clip appears to show protestors scattering after the weapon is used. Mr Vucic later claimed that 56 people were injured and 22 arrested. Police denied using the sonic cannon, insisting such a move “would not have been in accordance with the law”. Despite heavy rain, vast crowds filled the city centre, with public transport halted as protesters streamed in from all directions.
Serbian authorities claimed the demonstration peaked at 107,000 attendees, though independent media suggested the true figure was significantly higher. Following scattered clashes between police and protesters, student organisers abruptly called for an end to the demonstration, citing safety concerns.
The mass protests, which began in response to the November disaster that killed 15 people, have since evolved into a broader movement against corruption and alleged government negligence.
Protestors accuse Mr Vucic’s administration of overseeing a system rife with cronyism and disregard for public safety, demanding accountability for the tragedy. Many carried banners reading “He’s Finished!” while chants of “Pump it Up” – a slogan adopted by the movement – rang through the streets.
Authorities have responded with a heavy-handed crackdown. Serbia’s Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said 13 people had been detained overnight, including six opposition activists accused of plotting to stage a coup.
Reports also emerged of Serbian border officials blocking journalists from Croatia and Slovenia, claiming their presence posed a “security risk.”
Tensions escalated further after a man drove his car into protesters in a Belgrade suburb, injuring three people. Meanwhile, members of a pro-Vucic counter-demonstration, which includes ex-paramilitary figures and football hooligans, have been camping outside the president’s headquarters in a show of support.
Mr Vucic has dismissed the protests as being orchestrated by Western intelligence services, though he has provided no evidence to support the claim. He has also rejected calls for a transitional government to oversee early elections, further fuelling opposition anger.
Critics have long accused Mr Vucic of steering Serbia away from the West and towards closer ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Despite Serbia’s official status as a European Union candidate, Mr Vucic has refused to impose sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine, while his government has deepened economic and military cooperation with Russia.
His close relationship with Mr Putin has raised concerns in Brussels and Washington, with many viewing his rule as increasingly authoritarian and aligned with Kremlin-style governance.
While Saturday’s mass gathering marked a major turning point, student leaders insist their fight is far from over.
Protestor Dejan Simic said: “This is just the beginning of the end, a process which I hope will end soon.”
