See Photos: Serbia’s Biggest Protest Yet! 100,000 March Against Government in Belgrade

In a historic display of public dissent, at least 100,000 people gathered in Belgrade for a massive anti-government rally, marking the culmination of months-long protests against Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and his administration.

Over 100,000 protesters flood Belgrade in Serbia’s largest
anti-government demonstration to date.

The capital’s downtown area was packed with demonstrators waving Serbian flags, chanting slogans, and holding banners demanding justice and accountability. Despite occasional rain showers, the crowd surged through the streets, leaving little room for movement.

According to Serbian police, the number of protesters peaked at 107,000, while independent media described the rally as the largest in the country’s history, suggesting attendance figures were even higher. Protesters flocked to Belgrade from across the nation, causing the suspension of all public transport in the city.

While the demonstration began peacefully, tensions escalated later in the evening. Reports of sporadic scuffles between protesters and the police emerged, prompting university students—who have spearheaded the protests for the past four months—to make a sudden decision.

Fearing the risk of violence, student leaders called off the protest, citing their inability to guarantee participants' safety. While most demonstrators dispersed, thousands remained in the streets as police presence increased.

The nationwide anti-corruption movement was triggered by a tragic train station incident in northern Serbia in November. A concrete canopy collapse at the station killed 15 people, fueling widespread anger over government corruption, negligence, and poor safety regulations in infrastructure projects.

Public outrage turned into an unstoppable wave of daily protests, shaking Vučić’s grip on power for the first time in his 13-year rule. Protesters argue that the train station tragedy was a direct result of deep-seated corruption and government mismanagement, demanding accountability for the victims.

In the lead-up to the demonstration, President Vučić repeatedly warned of alleged plans for unrest and violence, threatening arrests and harsh penalties for anyone involved in clashes.

In a move widely condemned by media freedom advocates, several journalists from neighboring Croatia and Slovenia were denied entry into Serbia. Authorities claimed that their presence at the rally posed a security risk, raising concerns about the government's attempts to control the narrative surrounding the protests.

Despite mounting public pressure, Vučić has rejected calls for a transitional government to oversee early elections, a key demand of the protesters. Instead, he has accused Western intelligence services of orchestrating the protests in an attempt to force him out of power—though he has provided no evidence to support these claims.

As Serbia grapples with its largest anti-government movement in recent history, the protests have brought deep-rooted issues of corruption, governance, and democratic freedoms to the forefront, with no clear resolution in sight.

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