Several hundred student protesters in Serbia have blocked the building of the country’s public television station in Belgrade, escalating tensions ahead of a major rally planned for the weekend, which is expected to mark the culmination of months of anti-government protests.
The blockade began late on Monday when the students gathered at the TV station in central Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, and they returned on Tuesday to continue their protest, announcing that the blockade would last for at least 22 hours. A similar blockade was also organized in Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city.
The protests, led by university students, have been taking place almost daily since November, following the collapse of a concrete canopy at a railway station in Novi Sad that killed 15 people. These protests have challenged the populist government of President Aleksandar Vucic and his tight hold on power.
Late on Monday, during the blockade, riot police intervened briefly, using batons as the protesters attempted to block one of the entrances to the TV building with metal security fences. A video shared on social media showed that at least one plainclothes police officer was injured in the clashes, allegedly after being struck in the head by a uniformed officer.
The students accuse public TV of biased reporting and supporting President Vucic and his government during the protests. On Monday evening, Vucic appeared as a guest on the main TV news bulletin.
During the interview, Vucic dismissed the student-led protests, warning that security forces would use force against participants in the large rally scheduled for Saturday. He also vowed never to resign due to the widespread protests across the country.
“You will have to kill me if you want to replace me,” Vucic stated.
The TV reporter interviewing Vucic referred to the protesting students as “a mob,” a description that seemed to receive approval from the president. The television station, RTS, later issued a statement condemning the blockade.
The RTS station condemned the blockade, stating that “forcibly preventing RTS employees from coming to their workplaces represents a dangerous step into open conflict with unpredictable consequences.”
However, some employees were reportedly able to enter the building through a side entrance not widely known, allowing the station’s programming to continue without interruption.
Meanwhile, President Vucic met with Donald Trump Jr., the eldest son of U.S. President Donald Trump, who arrived in Belgrade on Tuesday. The purpose of his visit remains unclear, though Vucic, a pro-Russian leader, is known to be a vocal supporter of the U.S. president.
In Serbia, many believe the collapse of the concrete structure was due to poor renovation work, allegedly driven by government corruption. The students have demanded full accountability for the tragedy, a call that has gained widespread support from citizens who are disillusioned with politicians and distrustful of state institutions.
The student-led protests, which have drawn tens of thousands of participants, are among the largest in Serbia’s history, a country with a long tradition of anti-government demonstrations. Vucic has characterized these rallies as part of a Western conspiracy to remove him from power.
The next major rally is scheduled for Saturday in Belgrade, and President Vucic has warned that the protesters “will try to achieve something through violence, and that will be the end.” He further stated that many demonstrators “will end up behind bars, charged with criminal acts.”
While the student-led protests over the past few months have largely been peaceful, there have been incidents where opponents drove their cars into protest blockades or physically attacked the protesters.
Vucic and his right-wing Serbian Progressive Party have maintained a strong hold on power in Serbia for over ten years, facing criticism for suppressing democratic freedoms, despite officially pursuing European Union membership for the country.
Authorities have charged 16 individuals in connection with the canopy collapse, but there is widespread skepticism about whether those responsible will ever face justice.