Large student protest at Slavija in Belgrade – Incidents after the rally
Thousands of students gathered at Slavija Square in Belgrade on 23 May 2025 under the slogan 'You and Me, Slavija, Because the Students Are Winning', with estimates of attendance ranging from 34,300 to 190,000, before clashes erupted with police after masked youths threw pyrotechnics. The protest, part of a broader student movement demanding electoral reforms, ended with 23 arrests, injuries to officers, and renewed calls for dialogue from President Aleksandar Vučić, who has repeatedly delayed elections scheduled for 2025.
A massive student protest took place at Slavija Square in Belgrade on 23 May 2025, drawing an estimated 34,300 officially registered participants, though independent observers suggested crowds of 180,000 to 190,000. Demonstrators gathered under the slogan ‘You and Me, Slavija, Because the Students Are Winning,’ focusing on demands for judicial reform, anti-corruption measures, and the formation of a student electoral list ahead of upcoming elections. Speakers addressed issues like the judiciary, historical grievances, and systemic corruption, framing the rally as a pivotal moment in Serbia’s student uprising, which began after 16 deaths in a 2024 railway station collapse in Novi Sad. The protest turned violent as masked youths near the Serbian Presidency building threw pyrotechnics at police, prompting a tear gas response and a police crackdown using armored vehicles. Twenty-three individuals were detained for attacking officers, while several policemen were injured, according to Interior Minister Ivica Dačić. The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office warned that all attackers would face legal consequences. Police Director Dragan Vasiljević reported only one prior incident—a journalist assault—before the clashes, though railway traffic nationwide was suspended due to anonymous bomb threats. The protest marked a consolidation of the student movement’s push for a dedicated electoral list, as students like Amar Ličina from Novi Pazar’s State University emphasized the need for transparency in election timing. President Aleksandar Vučić, who has repeatedly delayed elections despite pledging to hold them in 2025, reiterated calls for dialogue on Instagram, labeling protesters ‘blockaders’ with a ‘violent nature.’ Meanwhile, his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) announced a rival gathering in Belgrade from 26 to 29 June, escalating political tensions. The student movement has evolved since its start in late 2024, shifting from faculty blockades to nationwide marches and signature campaigns. Anja Despotović, a student at Belgrade’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering, highlighted Slavija’s symbolic importance, calling it the launchpad for a new phase in their struggle. Protesters carried ‘No Surrender’ flags, reinforcing their stance against concessions on electoral and judicial reforms. The unrest reflects broader discontent with Vučić’s government, as the delay in elections and perceived repression fuel ongoing demonstrations.
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