Belgrade protests escalate over police arrests
Several key arteries in Belgrade were blocked overnight, Sunday into Monday, June 30, by protesters.
They set up barricades and makeshift camps to express their anger over recent police arrests, DW reports. According to the Serbian daily "Blic," dozens of intersections across the capital were occupied, including the Gazela Bridge over the Sava River. Similar protests also erupted in other Serbian cities.
On social media, the "Blocada" group—the main organizer of the demonstrations and boasting hundreds of thousands of followers—published a map of strategic points in Belgrade, urging supporters to block traffic. According to the Associated Press, several thousand people participated in the protests on the night of June 30.
The demonstrations were triggered by discontent over arrests made on June 28. Following clashes with law enforcement, 77 people were detained, 38 of whom were held in pre-trial detention. The Serbian Interior Ministry announced that a total of 70 people were injured, including 48 police officers.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs, Ivica Dačić, stated that authorities are closely monitoring the blockades and appealed for calm. Local media suggests police and municipal services might intervene on Monday morning to restore traffic flow.
President Aleksandar Vučić harshly criticized the protests, labeling radical participants as "terrorists." He also publicly attacked Vladan Đokić, the Rector of the University of Belgrade, for his involvement in the demonstrations.
Protests in Serbia have been ongoing for eight months. They initially began on November 1, 2024, after the concrete roof of a recently renovated building at Novi Sad's central railway station collapsed, killing 16 people. Following that tragedy, demonstrations ensued, gradually spreading across the entire country.
In January 2025, Prime Minister Miloš Vučević and the Mayor of Novi Sad resigned. However, this step didn't appease protesters, who then demanded the resignation of the entire government and the organization of early elections. President Vučić rejected these demands, stating he was "not interested" in the protests.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
