Thousands of demonstrators converged on the university campus in Novi Sad, Serbia, on September 5, 2025, to voice their demands for immediate elections and accountability from President Aleksandar Vučić and his ruling party. The protests, which have been ongoing since November 2024, were initially sparked by a tragic railway accident in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, that claimed 16 lives. This event became a focal point for widespread public frustration over alleged government corruption and negligence.
The demonstrations saw thousands of participants holding banners with slogans such as "We don't want a blockade, we want elections" and "Students have one demand: to schedule elections." The situation escalated when clashes occurred between protesters and police, with reports of tear gas and light grenades being used to disperse the crowd. President Vučić stated that 11 police officers sustained injuries during the protests. He also alleged that foreign special services were involved in orchestrating the disruptions and organizing unauthorized rallies in other Serbian cities. Vučić characterized the protesters as "cowards and scum" and accused foreign states of inciting the protests to topple his government, suggesting a narrative of external interference.
The roots of the current unrest can be traced back to the November 1, 2024, railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad, which resulted in 16 fatalities. This disaster ignited a wave of public outrage, with demonstrators attributing the cause to systemic corruption and a lack of government accountability. The protests have since evolved, with student collectives and other groups calling for snap parliamentary elections, transparency in public projects, and the prosecution of those responsible for the tragedy and any subsequent violence against demonstrators. By March 2025, these protests had reportedly spread to 400 cities and towns across Serbia, with some gatherings in Belgrade drawing over 100,000 people, marking the largest anti-government protests in modern Serbian history.
In response to the escalating situation, opposition parties have called for sanctions against President Vučić and other high-ranking officials, citing police brutality and a crackdown on dissent. Meanwhile, President Vučić has maintained that the state is strong and responsible, while also accusing opposition parties of being "various propagandists" aiming to portray Serbia in an undemocratic light. The government's response has included accusations of foreign interference and the use of inflammatory rhetoric, which critics argue risks further escalating tensions and potential violence between protesters and pro-government activists. The international community's reaction has been described as muted, with a focus on regional stability and ongoing negotiations concerning Kosovo, rather than vocal support for the pro-democracy movements within Serbia. The situation highlights a deep-seated distrust in the current political leadership and a strong public demand for democratic reform and accountability.