Yesterday, hundreds of thousands rallied in Belgrade against President Aleksandar Vučić‘s government, marking the largest protest in Serbia this century. The event concluded earlier than scheduled due to an altercation near Pioneer Park.

The demonstrators maintained their existing demands, underscoring their desire for a different Serbia through the sheer size of the protest.

The incident arose shortly after 7 PM, as students reported that bottles, rocks, and what sounded like cannon fire were hurled from the park’s vicinity.

In a statement shared on the “Students in Blockade” Instagram page, they announced, “Our security personnel have removed their vests. We urge everyone to move to safety,” indicating that the protest had been called off.

Responding to a “Vijesti” reporter regarding the chaos that erupted from Pionirski Park, students claimed the disturbances were instigated and that it was now up to the police to ensure citizen safety.

Student security reported to a “Vijesti” journalist that an action termed “Million” had been initiated, meaning participants would exit the rally if violence erupted. They alleged they had received intel about plans to set fire to tractors left around Pionirski Park days prior, many lacking license plates.

Earlier in the day, scuffles occurred between the Gendarmerie and protesters trying to gain access to the park.

A group of young men in dark attire, masked and armed with poles, was seen in the streets, leading to the detention of two individuals. Earlier, a larger crowd clad in black with caps and poles was also identified in Belgrade.

After the protest was officially deemed over, military veterans and motorcyclists who had provided security parted ways with the students, allowing provocateurs to occupy the area in front of the Parliament, according to various media sources.

Students camping in Pioneer Park for days included former members of the notorious Red Berets police unit, as well as many alleged Vučić supporters, mostly older individuals and suspected Kosovo Serbs, as per numerous media reports.

The President of the Assembly of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, dismissed allegations that those at the camp instigated the violence, asserting that “extremists” attacked both the students blocking roads and those in the park.

“Claims that anyone from Pioneer Park initiated aggression are false. There is clear evidence that extremists targeted both groups of students. We will not allow violence,” she stated.

Did the sound cannon operate?

A fifteen-minute silence in Slavija to commemorate the fifteen victims of the Novi Sad bus station collapse was reportedly shattered by a “sound cannon” which incited panic and a stampede in one street.

Military analyst Aleksandar Radić explained to N1 that this American non-lethal sonic weapon is intended to incapacitate a target, asserting that it has been part of the Serbian security forces’ arsenal for years.

“The biggest concern tonight is – who decided to utilize such weapons? It occurred during a peaceful demonstration meant to honor victims, yet weaponry was unleashed. This act reflects a brutal display of force, rooted in arrogance and hostility towards one’s own populace,” Radić asserted.

Retired MP and general Zdravko Ponoš remarked that, based on information received, a sonic weapon had been deployed:

“The crowd’s reaction, as if something swept by them, indicates the use of sound to intimidate… These weapons can be harmful to health, and their use during a commemorative moment highlights the scandalous nature of the event.”

The Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs refuted claims regarding the use of a sound cannon, labeling it illegal, and announced an investigation into the incident.

They reported multiple incidents and clashes among protest participants in central Belgrade, who, they claim, attacked officers repeatedly, attempting to thwart their duties and promote unrest.

“Members of the Ministry of the Interior are implementing all necessary measures to quell further escalation, ensure public order, and safeguard citizens,” they stated.

After the students declared the protest over, many returned to their faculties, while some chose to remain in the streets and near the Serbian Parliament.

A “Vijesti” correspondent witnessed burning flares being launched towards Pioneer Park, which produced plumes of red and white smoke.

Cannon fire was intermittently heard.

Around 8:45 PM, the Gendarmerie advanced towards the city center in Humvee combat vehicles from the Faculty of Law, though they soon halted. An NXNUMX reporter noted that they received orders to lower their shields and later vacated the area.

Citizens chanted slogans calling for Vučić’s arrest and pronounced that he was finished.

Half a million people took to the streets?

Lawyer and former Minister of Internal Affairs of Serbia Bozo Prelević stated that approximately half a million individuals participated in the protests yesterday.

“Having witnessed the protest on October 5th, I can confidently assert that the turnout exceeds 500,000 people. It’s beyond estimation…,” he expressed to Nova.rs.

Police estimates placed around 107,000 participants at yesterday’s gatherings in Belgrade, with many arriving from the interior regions.

They proclaimed they would no longer tolerate corruption putting lives at risk, nor allow party officials to orchestrate attacks on students, which served as the essence of the protest under the slogan “15 for 15”.

The rally was summoned by students who have been blocking universities across the nation for over three months, demanding accountability for the deaths of fifteen individuals in the Novi Sad tragedy.

Gatherings were observed across various city locations, from which citizens marched with Serbian flags, placards, and whistles towards Parliament. The immense scale of the protest was evident as organizers called on citizens to gather at Slavija due to the impossibility of approaching the Parliament.

Thousands of students trekked to Belgrade on foot from multiple locations, accompanied by cyclists and motorcyclists, joined by citizens nationwide.

“We have submitted letters to Prosecutor Zagorka Dolovac. Our demands have reached her office. They marginalized us, igniting our resolve to protest even more. We welcomed the New Year on the streets. Locations like Mostar, RTS, Autokomanda, along with calls for the resignations of the Prime Minister and the Novi Sad Mayor echoed through almost three months after the disaster,” mentioned one student.

She recounted their 80-kilometer journey to Novi Sad and subsequent destinations, including Kragujevac, Novi Pazar, and Niš, stating this was merely the buildup to today’s Belgrade event.

“Witness our presence, witness our numbers! Your voices resonate! We hear you! Let’s unite to awaken Serbia! We must persist in our fight for students, farmers, educators, lawyers, healthcare professionals, artists, journalists, engineers, for the lives lost, and for those we could lose in silence. The night gets darkest before dawn. We shall not relent until our demands are fulfilled!” declared a student during the large protest in Belgrade.

A student at Slavija affirmed their presence as a stand against prolonged suffering and an assertion that they would no longer allow corruption to threaten lives.

“We unite here because we refuse to be deprived of our freedom, standing in solidarity against the assault on the student Rely and others who protested in Novi Sad. No longer shall we permit organized attacks on students from any political faction, as seen against those from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts,” she emphasized.

In her speech, the student reiterated that they won’t tolerate being oppressed like the musicians of the Belgrade Philharmonic, doctors, and female students like Sonja and Kristina.

“We’ve come here because we will not stand idly by as you strike us with the batons hidden within your party’s premises, like you did with student Anu. We refuse to allow insults and maligning from the media owned by the state, as they have perpetuated against us since the onset of the student blockades. We will no longer accept penalization for social media posts, as experienced by EPS workers.”

The rally organizers also extended solidarity to educators, expressing concern for their pressures from the authorities and existential threats.

One of the students conveyed to the gathering at Slavija that educators are “fighting for their dignity amidst government blackmail.”

“Educators form society’s backbone, imparting lessons on freedom and bravery. Our teachers face existential threats. The government aims to render them invisible, fearing educated individuals who question authority,” the student conveyed, as reported by Beta.

Numerous educators have not received their salaries due to class suspensions, leading to reduced earnings.

Students also showcased a three-meter-high Trojan horse figure at the protest, bearing the message: “Citizens hold the sovereignty.” Many among them had trekked to Belgrade days earlier, arriving late Friday.

About ten days prior to the protest, a faction named “Students 2.0” had encamped in Pionirski Park, advocating for the cessation of faculty blockades.

President Aleksandar Vučić urged “Students 2.0” to dismantle their encampment for the duration of the protests, but they declined.

Government officials and regime-aligned media have accused students of provoking violence, warning of arrests if disturbances occurred.

Vuković barred from entering Serbia for one year

In Belgrade, MP and DPS vice president Ivan Vuković was detained and prohibited from entering Serbia due to a supposed security risk.

Vuković shared that he had returned to Montenegro after being issued a one-year entry ban to Serbia, expressing hope that his future visits wouldn’t resemble a scenario where individuals are apprehended for social media expressions. “PS – always with students,” he noted in a post.

He also expressed gratitude towards all who showed support during his day of detention.

After a few hours, Vuković was released, as announced earlier by Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović.

“Following discussions with my colleague Marko Đurić, I’ve been informed that MP Ivan Vuković is safe and on his way back to Montenegro,” Ivanović posted on the X network.

The DPS commented on Vuković’s detention, attributing it to “the ideologue of the current Serbian government, Vojislav Šešelj.”

“Clearly, they are intimidated by an educational figure and MP, viewing him as a threat to the constitutional order. When arrested at Šešelj’s behest, one knows they are fighting on the right side of the political spectrum,” the DPS remarked.

DPS informed “Vijesti” that Vuković was detained while departing the Hilton Hotel and told BIA officials he was in Belgrade to assist a family member with health issues.

Vuković had previously shared a video in support of protesting students on his Facebook page Friday night.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajić affirmed that the state will support its citizens in every context, but does not endorse Montenegrin officials interfering in the internal politics of other nations.

He noted that appropriate authorities acted swiftly in consultation with their Serbian counterparts.

Picula: A government attempting to suppress the truth is undemocratic

Croatian MEP Tonino Picula, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, criticized Serbian authorities yesterday after a cohort of journalistic teams, including Croatian journalists, were obstructed at the border, cited as security threats ahead of the protest.

Picula condemned the incident as reflective of undemocratic conduct by authorities, warning that such strategies are ineffective at halting the dissemination of truth.

“Border stoppages for journalists may occur, but the truth can’t be contained by any borders. A regime which attempts to suppress the truth clearly lacks democratic credentials, implying it harbors reasons to block information about its actions from reaching the global audience,” Picula stated.

Commenting on the protest’s nature, Picula articulated uncertainty over whether it represented a stage or crescendo of the demonstrations.

He also indicated that “escalating conflicts” served neither the protesters’ nor the authorities’ interests.

Vučić: We have received the message, change is necessary

President Aleksandar Vučić expressed satisfaction with the large-scale protest in Belgrade, acknowledging the “immense negative energy, anger, and frustration directed towards the authorities,” while noting the absence of casualties or severe injuries.

Vučić confirmed that the message was clearly understood and emphasized the necessity for government introspection when such large crowds gather.

“We must adapt and learn considerably,” Vučić asserted during a press briefing late last night.

However, he mentioned that the Serbian populace does not desire “colored revolutions” or violence, but prefers electoral change instead.

He reported that 22 individuals were arrested for property crimes and assaults on police officers or citizens.

According to Vučić, 56 individuals sought medical treatment after the events.

He noted disturbances between protesters at Nikola Pašić Square, which resulted in serious injuries to one individual.

Vučić reported that the Army’s estimate indicated 88,000 attendees, the police estimated around 107,000, while BIA gauged attendance to be somewhere in between.

“A notably high number of participants came from rural regions,” he remarked.

Vučić deemed allegations regarding the use of a “sonic cannon” to be disgraceful.

He added that it would have been challenging to avoid bloodshed without the presence of tractors providing barrier at Pioneer Park.

He reiterated his belief that today’s protest signified an attempt at executing a “color revolution.”

He expressed pride in the fact that “99 percent” of the participating students sought to avoid confrontation.

“I harbor no high regard for those who infringe upon constitutionally protected freedoms. I hold a similar view on their political maneuvers, yet I find satisfaction in realizing that nearly all of these young individuals did not wish to engage in any violent activities. They departed the rally after the initial outbreak of violence, signaling, ‘this is not ours,’ once they perceived a loss of control over the event,” he described.

He concluded that “Serbia triumphed” today, having successfully preserved peace while unearthing various concealed issues.

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