The protests in Serbia, particularly the recent rally in Belgrade on March 15, 2025, have been described as the largest in the country’s history. The demonstrations were sparked by the tragic collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad in November 2024, which killed 15 people and is widely attributed to government corruption and negligence.
Attendance Figures: The Serbian government estimated that around 107,000 people participated in the Belgrade protest14. However, independent estimates suggest that the number could be significantly higher, ranging from 275,000 to 325,000 people37.
Demographics: The protests have seen broad participation from various groups, including students, farmers, military veterans, and ordinary citizens18.
Impact: These protests represent a major challenge to President Aleksandar Vucic’s administration, which has faced criticism for corruption and governance issues56.
Tension and Response: The protests have been marked by tension, with some clashes reported and preemptive measures taken by authorities, such as cancelling public transport and deploying riot police14. Despite these challenges, the protests have remained largely peaceful, with participants calling for accountability and systemic change26.
Citations:
- https://evrimagaci.org/tpg/massive-anticorruption-protests-erupt-across-belgrade-263834
- https://www.dw.com/en/tension-in-belgrade-on-eve-of-major-student-protests/a-71924493
- https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2g8v32q30o
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/15/thousands-join-antigovernment-protest-in-serbias-capital-belgrade
- https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-student-protest-wave-vucic/33348831.html
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/15/mass-protest-in-belgrade-against-president-vucics-government
- https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2025/03/17/massive-anti-graft-rally-engulfs-serbias-capital.html
- https://www.dw.com/en/serbia-protesters-flood-belgrade-with-vucic-under-pressure/a-71933147
- https://www.boell.de/en/2025/03/13/will-serbias-protest-movement-lead-to-a-democratic-beginning
- https://rs.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-embassy-belgrade-serbia-march-13-2025-2/
- https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/huge-crowds-join-anti-government-rally-belgrade-after-sporadic-violence-2025-03-15/
- https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2025/3/16/an-estimated-100000-join-antigovernment-rally-in-serbias-belgrade
- https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/03/16/more-than-100000-protesters-flood-the-streets-of-belgrade-in-anti-corruption-rally
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2025/03/15/large-crowds-converge-in-serbia-s-capital-for-protest-against-corruption_6739183_4.html
- https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/15/europe/serbias-protests-saturday-ap-intl/index.html
- https://balkaninsight.com/2025/03/15/over-100000-protesters-flood-serbian-capital-demanding-change/
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