In Belgrade, Serbian students organized a blockade of a major traffic intersection for an entire day, garnering support from local farmers and amplifying the pressure on President Aleksandar Vučić.

This series of student-led protests originated as a response to governmental corruption, triggered by the tragic roof collapse at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, which resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals, according to a report from the British Guardian and Danas.

Despite confrontations with protesters and minimal concessions from the government, the protests continued to grow in frequency and scale, encompassing over 100 cities and towns and gaining backing from various sectors, including the judiciary, educators, private sector workers, and the public.

On Monday, protesters took control of the Autokomanda intersection, a key junction where two major roads from the southeast lead toward downtown Belgrade.

Thousands of citizens from Belgrade joined the protests, alongside farmers who arrived with their tractors—some of which were utilized to shield demonstrators after two alarming incidents where vehicles collided with protest crowds.

The farmers’ involvement and the display of tractors echoed the large-scale protests that led to the ousting of Vučić’s predecessor, Slobodan Milošević, in late 2000. However, Milošević’s downfall only materialized when significant factions within the security forces turned against him.

Following a record turnout of 100,000 protesters in Belgrade on December 22, Vučić issued threats, claiming that Serbian special forces could “disperse them in 6-7 seconds.” Nonetheless, this threat was met with mockery, and he has yet to employ security forces to break up the ongoing demonstrations.

The government has attempted to address some of the students’ requests, notably by declassifying certain documents related to the Novi Sad station canopy’s collapse, which occurred shortly after renovations conducted by a Chinese-led consortium.

Protesters allege that the collapse was a result of corruption and shortcuts taken during construction. Thirteen individuals, including former Serbian Transport Minister Goran Vesic, have been charged in connection with the incident; Vesic resigned shortly after the collapse.

The government made additional relevant documents public on Sunday, but it remains uncertain if this will suffice to quell the protests. Demonstration leaders are also calling for an end to the prosecution of protesters, the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for assaults on protesters, and enhanced funding for education.

Alida Vračić, co-founder and executive director of Populari, a think tank specializing in the Western Balkans, remarked that the ongoing demonstrations pose a significant challenge to Vučić, who has been a prominent figure in Serbian politics since his rise to the position of prime minister in 2014.

“Their unique approach is potentially threatening. These students are transcending conventional opposition tactics and circumventing the usual methods of addressing ineffective governance. They are not seeking dialogue or compromises; rather, they demand institutions to fulfill their functions,” Vračić explained. “This directness is profoundly impactful and lies outside the capacity of the Serbian political arsenal.”

“Uniting thousands around a shared demand—justice—they have crafted a compelling and resonant message, mobilizing many. In the Balkans, where injustice has lingered for too long, their appeal for change is pressing. It is time for change that could resonate beyond borders,” she added.

Edward Joseph, a former US diplomat and faculty member at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, suggested that a shift in the political landscape in Serbia may be underway.

“Teachers—and workers from many other professions—have followed the students’ lead, who protested en masse following the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad train station on November 1,” he noted in a social media post.

“There are reports that even judges—high-ranking civil servants—left their courtrooms to show solidarity with the marching protesters. The fear factor has dissipated. Even within the constraints of a diminished Balkan democracy, individuals still possess the freedom to make choices and demand accountability.”

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