An enormous demonstration in Belgrade, in which participants called for new elections, has turned violent. Riot police used tear gas and stun grenades against the anti-government protesters. President Aleksandar Vucic claims that “foreign powers” are behind the protest.
According to the French news agency AFP, possibly up to 140,000 demonstrators were present at the protest. They demanded that Vucic dissolve parliament and call early elections. Other media, such as news agency AP, speak of many tens of thousands of demonstrators.
In the course of the evening, a clash occurred between demonstrators and a group of government supporters, who have set up a tent camp in the center of Belgrade.
The police took action against the anti-government protesters, including tear gas and stun grenades. Such a grenade causes a flash and can temporarily disorient people. The demonstrators shouted at the police not to intervene.
Protest wave began after train station collapsed
Serbia has been restless for months, after a roof of a train station collapsed in the city of Novi Sad in November last year. According to many Serbians, this was the result of corruption and poor government supervision. The accident was the beginning of a major wave of protests against Vucic, who has been in power for twelve years.
In principle, there will not be new parliamentary and presidential elections in Serbia until 2027. The demonstrators do not want to wait for that. They say that Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since he came to power.
Vucic said on Saturday that unknown “foreign powers” are behind the protest. He said that the police should be restrained, but warned that violence will not be tolerated.